Archetypal Leadership: Understanding the Archetypal Challenges Women Face In Formal Leadership Positions By: Matt Morava

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"Down in the basement, we hear the sound of machines" -- David Byrne

I’ve been blessed to support a number of powerful women in leadership positions. I found this work to be useful in understanding some of the deeper dynamics at work. This is a rough outline of that work. !I have identified the most common feminine archetypes that get called forth in organizations. !Often, it's not a choice if and when an archetype is called forth, but once called they can become an identity that a leader can find hard to shake. !It’s important to note that people are made up of multiple archetypes, but at work most of us, especially women it seems, get reduced (meaning known as) to a single archetype.

Archetypes can take on a life of their own, if left unmanaged, and often dictate the success or failure in a position of leadership. !It's vital that the “activated” archetype be named and the appropriate strategy for dealing with it employed. !This work can also help men who either report to and/or are struggling in a working relationship get a better understanding of the dynamics underneath and identify how their own archetypes are responding to the situation. !We men will often find ourselves to be in opposition to women in leadership positions without any real understanding of where that opposition is sourced.

Brief Note - Outlier Archetypes have power within an organization, but don't have positional authority. It's only when position and power come together that you have the Power Archetypes. I've included James Hillman's "Kinds of Power" so you can get a sense of the power each archetype has at its disposal.

The Archetypes

Outlier Archetypes -- Shadow The Maid -- Takes out the trash, washes the dirty laundry, and can polish the silver with a degree of contempt/righteousness because she knows where the “bodies” are buried. Kinds of Power: Control and Resistance Power Brokers: Mother Teresa, Lillian Rogers Parks, Barbara Piasecka Johnson !The Gossip -- Has the power to get information first. This is the power of networking. Kinds of Power: Influence and Persuasion Power Brokers: Dorothy Parker, Ana Marie Cox, Liz Smith, Hedda Hopper, Luella Parsons !The Goddess - Kali -- The source of creative destruction. Kinds of Power: Exhibitionism, Charisma, and Fearsomeness Power Brokers: Yoko Ono, Carly Fiorina, Wallis Simpson, Mata Hari !The Femme Fatal -- The seductress and source of attention. Kinds of Power: Ambition, Reputation, Resistance, Persuasion, Charisma Power Brokers: Cleopatra, Pamela Harriman, Anne Bass, and Paula Broadwell

Power Feminine Archetypes -- Power and Positional Power The Red Queen -- The “Blood Queen” evokes passion, commitment, and loyalty. People will die for her cause. Kinds of Power: Ambition, Reputation, Leadership, Authority, Charisma, Rising, and Decision Power Brokers: Princess Diana, Joan of Arc, Queen Victoria, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Sheryl Sandberg !The White Queen -- The “Ice Queen” rules by fear and intimidation. She draws the perennial guilty to her cause. Shame is her greatest weapon. Kinds of Power: Control, Reputation, Leadership, Decision, Fearsomeness, and Tyranny Power Brokers: Margaret Thatcher, Hillary Clinton, Meg Whitman, Eva Peron, Imelda Marcos !The Matriarch -- The “Big Mama” that keeps everyone in line. Evokes loyalty through the use of “tough love.” Kinds of Power: Office, Reputation, Leadership, Authority, Decision, Fearsomeness, Tyranny, and Veto Power Brokers: Barbara Bush, Queen Mary, Golda Meir

Outlier Archetypes - Light The Goddess - Aphrodite -- The source of pleasure and beauty. Kinds of Power: Exhibitionism, Persuasion, Rising Power Brokers: Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Beyonce, Angelina Jolie !The Princess -- The source of high standards and quality. The princess is most directly related and attracts the “Rebel” archetype and these two often find each other in organizations and create mischief. Kinds of Power: Influence, Rising Power Brokers: Kate Middleton, Caroline Kennedy, Emma Watson !The Priestess -- The “Keeper of Ritual” and is part historian, part archivist for the organization. Kinds of Power: Influence, Concentration, Persuasion Power Brokers: Indira Gandhi, J.K.Rowling, Marie Curie !The Fairy Godmother -- The bringer of “boons” and timely advice. Kinds of Power:Influence Power Brokers: Oprah !The Virgin -- Brings a sense of purity and innocence. Is the “new gal” on the block. Her voice of “no” against wrongful acts that have become commonplace in organizations carries a lot of weight. Kinds of Power: Purism, Veto Power Brokers: Karen Silkwood, Bethany Hamilton

Steps: !1. Identify the Archetype 2. Embrace and Expand the Archetype 3. Release/Play/Heal the Organization Using Given Power !We need better and more stories about women and power in order to break from these limited archetypes. !We could start by embracing and revisioning the goddesses of Ancient Greece. Their stories are waiting to be retold.