Leading With Your Shadow

Want a sneaky peep into therapy for leaders? Ever considered doing a little shadow work?

Worried there's some hippy ar$e woo woo coming your way? ??♀???♀???♀?

Nope - no woo woo - read on for some practical shadow work 'to do's' ??

The Shadow Self: Not Your Enemy (neither is therapy)

Everybody's at ease putting the power of their persona on display — you know, the face they show to the world. So much in society is about presenting the 'right' and hiding the 'wrong' parts of ourselves to avoid sirens and handcuffs (and the sort) ??????

But what about the parts of you that you keep hidden?

Don't run away now! We all know we hide parts of ourselves, reading on is not going to expose you in some way. Go on, get curious...

Meet Carl Jung - loner child, occult & UFO enthusiast, womaniser, and...psychiatrist/psychotherapist!

His concept of the shadow self dives into the depths of your private traits, the ones you don’t like to showcase. You know, those parts of yourself that you consciously tuck away from sight.

This isn't about airing your dirty laundry; it's about integrating your hidden parts to become a more conscious leader.

The shadow is neither negative or shameful. It’s a crucial part of your psyche, packed with potential, with its origins in our wounding. The goal of shadow work is to walk with both your shadow and persona, allowing you to manage impulses that usually sneak up on you — like anger, envy, greed... ??

Imagine harnessing these impulses, rather than suppressing them. That’s where the real leadership magic happens.??

Into Your Darkness

Leading with your shadow means accepting all parts of yourself, even the ones you’d rather hide. You might think it's hidden but others experience it as oozing toxicity.

Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual's conscious life, the blacker and denser it is. At all counts, it forms an unconscious snag thwarting our most well-meant intentions. Carl Jung

Sounds terrifying and risky right? But here's the payoff:

?Forget the polished facade - we all know it's fake anyway ??. Walking with your shadow, means you show up as your whole self...and this makes you surprisingly more predictable, which people find easier to trust & relate to.

?Understanding your own challenges with the shadow self makes you more empathetic towards others. Only your shadow can level you up in the art of human condition.

?Your shadow isn’t just about exposing your flaws, it's the driver to the good sh*t you do. Confronting implicit biases or channeling anger into fighting for just causes turns negatives into powerful positives.

Practical Shadow Work for Leaders

Ready to dive into shadow work? Start with these prompts:

??What things do you most fear others discovering about you? Get acquainted.

??Do you ever feel shame? Why? Learn self-acceptance and embrace all parts of yourself.

??What are your biggest triggers, and where do you feel they come from? Time for some self mastery.

??What are your negative self-images or thoughts about yourself? Identify and counter negative traits both personal and societal.

??When you are very angry at others, what things do you think about them? Understanding others’ challenges enhances empathy and connection.

??What do your recent dreams tell you about your fears? Dreams can be windows into your subconscious.

Leading with your shadow is holding your own wounds as you make space for your team to be imperfectly wounded also.

It's an artform of self mastery, best tackled with an experienced therapist to guide you.

I can't say it better than this, so from Jung himself:

Shadow work is the path of the heart warrior. Carl Jung