I have often tried to understand my personal leadership style and what my motivators are. I feel that every one of us has a set of leadership traits that we are born with. Some of these traits can make leading others a more natural occurrence, while others work against our leadership approach and cause difficulties. The psychodynamic approach and archtypes offers some insight into ways for a leader to understand how to be more efffective. Which type of leader are you?
The psychodynamic approach suggest that leaders that know their own personal psychological makeup are more effective. It also suggests that leaders who understand the psychological makeup of theor followers are also more effective(Penn State, 2013). Leaders that are able to envision their own opportunities for improvement, as seen from their subordinates eyes are liekly to be more successful. This is the result of knowing what is wrong and working to correct it. Likewise, a leader who has an understanding of what their strengths are and uses those strenths appropriately is also likely to have some success.
Archetypes are a part of the psychodynamic apporach that works to help us understand the inherent differneces between leaders. Archetypes were introduced by Carl Jung, Jung believed that all of us have a collective unconcious. This is an unlearned understanding of some of the characteristics and patterns of human beavior(Penn State,2013). The first archetype is the warrior. The warrior is the type of leader the takes charge and motivates the team to change to meet the leader’s need. Warriors work for the money. The second archetype directly related to leadership is the Magician. The Magician is considered to be the ideal leader. They can adapt and feel rewarded by the work itself(Penn State, 2013).
I am a Magician. Leading others is something that I have come to enjoy and appreciate. I try to envision how I am percieved while trying to lead and take into account my team’s strengths and weaknesses. For instance, I would not try to put someone into a position if I know they are genuinely uncomfortable or insecure about performing that function. I don’t work for free but I do tend to work up a level or two.
Regardless of your leadership style there is room to grow your capability by understanding the pychodynamic apporach and understanding which archetype you are.
Penn State. (2013). Psych 485. Retrieved September 13, 2013, from Courses.worldcampus.psu.edu:
https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/fa13/psych485/002/content/03_lesson/03_page.html