Harnessing true potential of human beings

Identifying personal traits could support character building and harness the true potential in a human being. This would help in personal development and the nation-building process, Michel Nugawela told a VIP CEO breakfast forum, introducing Leadership Archetyping.

The forum introduced to business owners, CEOs and political leaders, the 12 archetypal dimensions of leadership transformation, each with its own motivational needs and archetypal storyline or perspective.

The 12 archetypes - Innocent, Orphan, Warrior, Caregiver, Explorer, Lover, Destroyer, Creator, Ruler, Magician, Sage and Jester - reflect the various roles that leaders can play in organisations by putting a human face to the attitudes, interactions, and behavioural patterns that are correlated with success and thereby influence their effectiveness.

Some of the corporate leaders who attended the Archetyping launch with Nugawela. From left: Managing Director, CTC and BAT, Felicio Ferraz, State Minister for Child Welfare, Rosy Senanayake, Chairman, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Suresh Shah, EU Parliamentarian, Niranjan Deva Aditiya, Michel Nugawela, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Director, MAS Holdings, Ajay Amalean, Chairman, Sri Lankan Airlines, Ajith Dias, Deshamanya Deva Rodrigo and Managing Director, Expo Lanka, Hanif Yousuf. Pic: Kelum Liyanage

The twelve archetypes are further sub-divided into three sets of four - Ego, Soul and Self - with the archetypes in each set sharing a common psychological driving source and storyline that influences how leaders see, act or experience life patterns, opportunities and challenges that they face in their executive role.

The Ego or conscious archetypes - Innocent, Orphan, Warrior and Caregiver - relate to the preparation of our individuation in life. The Soul archetypes relate to the individuation process itself and include the Explorer, Lover, Destroyer and Creator.

The Self archetypes - the Ruler, Magician, Sage and Jester - relate to the fullest expression of our potential in life. Taken together, these archetypes provide a holistic view of personal and organisational transformation.

Nugawela outlined how leaders could use the resources, skills and tools from each archetype to show up more fully in their work and organisations.

"Leaders will notice when an archetype is active or inactive by observing language, emotions and behaviour in themselves and others," he said.

"For centuries, people have migrated to the country in search of a more prosperous life for themselves and their children," he said.

But America in the post-9/11 world has also expressed the Warrior archetype as it became embroiled in war and conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In the same way, during the past 30 years of civil war, Sri Lanka experienced the Destroyer archetype, which has left many people orphaned and led to strong Warriors commanding power and control in society.

The election this January brought Maithripala Sirisena, a Ruler-Caregiver and Ranil Wickremesinghe, a Ruler-Sage, into power. It remains to be seen if these leaders will be the magicians who transform our country for the better," Nugawela said.