Leadership and the Archetypal Mind
Part 1: Exploring How Timeless Patterns Shape Great Leaders—And Their Downfalls
Leadership is often discussed in terms of skills, strategy, and decision-making. We analyze what makes great leaders effective, what separates good from bad management, and how leaders inspire or fail their teams. But beneath all of this lies something deeper—something more instinctual and universal.
Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology, believed that human behavior is shaped by archetypes—deep, unconscious patterns that influence how we think, act, and lead. These archetypes are universal, appearing across cultures and throughout history. They show up in mythology, literature, and modern leadership. Whether you’re leading at B:Side, a startup, a Fortune 500 company, or a small team, understanding these archetypes can help you navigate leadership challenges, harness your strengths, and avoid your worst tendencies.
In this series, we’ll explore how four core archetypes—the Hero, Mentor, Trickster, and Monarch (Jung uses the term King but we’re going gender-neutral because my entire leadership team is comprised of incredibly talented women)—shape leadership. We’ll examine how these forces guide leaders toward success and how, when left unchecked, they can drive leaders into dysfunction. By understanding these patterns, leaders can better recognize their own tendencies, manage their weaknesses, and lead with greater effectiveness and awareness.
What Are Archetypes? The Deep Structure of Leadership
Jung defined archetypes as universal psychological patterns that exist in the collective unconscious—the inherited, instinctual aspects of the human mind. He believed that these patterns shape how we perceive the world, react to challenges, and relate to others.
Archetypes show up everywhere. They are the foundation of myths, legends, and storytelling. They are why The Odyssey, Star Wars, and The Lion King all feel familiar, despite coming from different cultures and eras. They shape how we instinctively understand the roles people play in our lives, from heroes to villains, mentors to tricksters.
In leadership, archetypes influence how people assume authority, inspire others, and react to power and pressure. Every leader embodies certain archetypal traits, whether they realize it or not. The best leaders integrate multiple archetypes in a balanced way, while struggling leaders tend to become trapped in one extreme or another.
This series will explore how four major archetypes shape leadership:
The Four Core Leadership Archetypes
1. The Hero: Strength, Courage, and the Will to Overcome
Strengths: The Hero leader is bold, courageous, and willing to take risks. They thrive under pressure and push through adversity.
Dangers: Heroes can burn out, take on too much alone, and struggle to delegate. Their need to constantly “win” can make them reckless.
Example: Elon Musk, who pushes boundaries but sometimes exhausts himself and his teams.
2. The Mentor: Wisdom, Guidance, and Leadership Beyond the Self
Strengths: Mentors help others grow. They share knowledge, develop talent, and provide stability.
Dangers: Mentors can become too detached, passive, or reluctant to take action when needed.
Example: Warren Buffett, known for his patient, long-term approach to leadership.
3. The Trickster: Innovation, Disruption, and Challenging the Status Quo
Strengths: Tricksters see opportunities where others see obstacles. They are creative, agile, and great at navigating uncertainty.
Dangers: If unchecked, the Trickster becomes manipulative, chaotic, or reckless.
Example: Steve Jobs, a disruptive visionary who at times clashed with his own teams.
4. The Monarch: Authority, Order, and the Burden of Power
Strengths: The Monarch provides structure, vision, and a sense of stability. They make the tough decisions and set the tone for their organizations.
Dangers: When distorted, the Monarch becomes either a Tyrant (controlling, paranoid, power-hungry) or a Weakling (indecisive, passive, and ineffective).
Example: Abraham Lincoln, a leader who wielded power with wisdom and restraint.
Each of these archetypes has a light and a shadow side. When a leader leans too heavily into one archetype without balance, they fall into dysfunction.
Why Every Leader Embodies These Archetypes
No leader is purely one archetype. Effective leadership requires shifting between these roles based on the situation. The best leaders are adaptable—they know when to take bold risks (Hero), when to step back and teach (Mentor), when to challenge the norm (Trickster), and when to provide structure and stability (Monarch).
However, many leaders get stuck in a single archetype and struggle to evolve:
• A Hero who refuses to delegate burns out.
• A Mentor who withdraws too much becomes out of touch.
• A Trickster who only disrupts without stability causes chaos.
• A Monarch who isolates themselves risks becoming a Tyrant or a Weakling.
Self-awareness is the key to breaking these patterns. By understanding your dominant archetypes, you can play to your strengths while recognizing when you need to step into a different role.
What’s Coming Next?
In the next articles, we’ll take a deep dive into each archetype—its strengths, its potential pitfalls, and how leaders can balance these energies effectively.
Next up: The Hero’s Journey in Leadership: Why Strength Without Limits Becomes a Trap. We’ll explore how heroic leadership can drive companies forward but also how it often leads to burnout, isolation, and poor decision-making.
Final Thoughts: The Power of Understanding Your Leadership Mindset
Leadership isn’t just about strategy, vision, or execution—it’s about psychology. Understanding your unconscious leadership patterns allows you to lead with more intention, balance, and effectiveness.
Over this series, we’ll unpack these deep-rooted patterns, helping you:
Recognize which archetype dominates your leadership style.
Identify the shadow tendencies that hold you back.
Learn how to balance multiple archetypes for long-term leadership success.
Jung believed that true self-awareness is the key to mastery. By integrating these archetypal forces rather than being controlled by them, leaders can build stronger teams, make better decisions, and create lasting impact.
Are you leading from a place of awareness—or are you unconsciously repeating the same patterns? Let’s find out as we explore the Hero archetype next.