We are continuing our work with Jim Curtan, Spiritual Director for our coaches and our company around the artful language of archetypes. We are doing this to help our clients better understand their personality blueprints and why they habitually act or react to others. It is a lighter approach to having people look at their ego self and know when to employ the right character for the role they need to play, the lead they need to take in their lives or with others! We first introduced the Queen in earlier submissions to the blog. Now we invite you to meet the King.
Everything you NEED to know about the King, but were afraid to ask!
- The King represents sovereign male power and authority – associated with both cruelty and benevolence, as interpreted by Carolyn Myss. We either love them or hate them.
- The King is typically born with this ego/personality, displaying these characteristics early in life, at play, in sports competition, and later at work:
1. A sense of entitlement
2. Lifetime need to rule or control (games, environments, communities, companies)
3. Can be a great leader that others gladly follow, sensing he will care for them and is sensitive to the needs of many.
4. Impatient with those who seem needy or demanding
5. Takes charge even if not appointed
6. Does not like to be challenged unless prepared - The benevolent or enlightened King is masterful, creating the space for others to truly shine, acknowledging them or challenging them to be great.
- The King is typically not happy bowing to a Queen, and may be paradoxically attracted to and repelled by the Queen’s energy or power. You may see this play out in corporate kingdoms, particularly in meetings where the queen will keep her silence if she feels it threatens the King in charge. Conversely, if the Queen is in charge, you may see the King dismiss her value, often sparring to take control of the conversation if he feels it will serve him. This is a political dance and can be humorous as you gain or maintain perspective about when this part of your personality (or their personality) is at play.
- His reactions may include:
1. Dismissive when other’s don’t follow his lead
2. Can have a short fuse or temperament if he is also a competitor or perfectionist
3. Can become the High Chair Tyrant if his needs are not met by those around him.
Learning to Live or Work with a King?
1. Expect to follow his strong lead, look for the enlightened leader within, the role he plays when he is at his best and then endorse him for what he does well in the leadership role. Remember it is lonely being the King.
2. Be Loyal – the King rewards loyalty
3. Remember to develop your own perspective, realizing the only power anyone has over you is what you give them… so choose carefully whom you follow without question, even the King.
4. If this ruler “Has No Clothes” - - be of service by holding a reflective conversation, mirroring back what you observe in the form of inklings or the impact he has on you and others. Make specific requests for what you want him to discuss or do differently with you.
5. Empower him to share his wisdom and his ideas. Make him your mentor.
Think Charleton Heston as Moses and you have an image of the King archetype, both servant and leader, strength and benevolence.
Stay tuned in. We will introduce you to the “Victim” role we all play soon. This is a critical characteristic or archetype we all share and it shows up daily in our coaching conversations with all of our clients, executives, top talent and the front line.
