In our book Stratego for Women, we use Greek Archetypes to understand different behaviors. This classification is based on Jungian theories, and Jean Shinoda Bolen has distinguished between feminine and masculine archetypes. In this blog, I will focus on the masculine archetypes.

What Are Archetypes?

There are many models that focus on specific behaviors, but they generally do not differentiate between masculine and feminine behaviors. Bolen made this distinction in her theoretical framework. I find this approach particularly insightful because organizations are still predominantly masculine in structure, so the behaviors associated with most masculine archetypes are often preferred.

In her books Goddesses in Everywoman and Gods in Everyman, Bolen describes seven archetypal goddesses and eight archetypal gods. Together, they represent the complete range of human behaviors. An archetype represents a particular aspect of this behavioral range. When we talk about gods and goddesses, we refer to the Greek deities.

In our book Stratego for Women, we focus primarily on behaviors encountered in the workplace. This means we have selected 5 gods, the masculine archetypes, and 6 goddesses, the feminine archetypes.

Which Archetypes Are There and What Are Their Characteristics and Pitfalls?

In this blog, I'll concentrate on the masculine archetypes. This doesn’t mean that women can’t exhibit qualities of the gods or vice versa. Here’s a brief overview of the gods:

1. Zeus

Zeus is the alpha male, the supreme god. He aims for top positions and is sensitive to power and status. He thinks strategically and has a clear vision. It takes a lot to persuade him otherwise. He dislikes being bothered with details and cannot tolerate losing face. Therefore, never criticize him openly.

Characteristics:

• Ambitious
• Seeks a top position
• Thinks in terms of bigger and bigger
• Expands his territory
• Strategic

Pitfalls:

• Narcissistic
• Authoritarian
• Lacks self-reflection

2. Hermes

Hermes is the charming man with the smooth talk. Sales and marketing roles suit him well. He pays attention to his appearance and likes to receive compliments. He often lacks depth in content. He enjoys showcasing various ideas but is difficult to pin down for commitments. You could say he’s somewhat slick and elusive.

Characteristics:

• Networking
• Charming
• Focuses on big picture
• Innovative
• Smooth talker

Pitfalls:

• Opportunistic
• Unreliable
• Superficial

3. Apollo

Apollo is often seen as the crown prince. He’s frequently the second-in-command in an organization—Zeus being the CEO and Apollo the CFO, for example. These men are seemingly easy to convince with numbers and facts. They earn the nickname "ideal son-in-law" due to their favorable traits. They value routines, order, and appearances. However, when necessary, Apollo can be a formidable strategist.

Characteristics:

• Focused on numbers and facts
• Clear and straightforward
• Rational
• Logical thinker
• Objective

Pitfalls:

• Arrogant
• Distant
• Emotionally detached

4. Poseidon

Poseidon is the emotional counterpart to the rational Apollo. He displays his emotions and expresses his sadness or anger openly. He wears his heart on his sleeve, making his feelings and reactions predictable. He dislikes strategic maneuvering within organizations and often struggles in such environments.

Characteristics:

• Emotional
• Fluctuating moods
• Sensitive
• Expressive
• Personal

Pitfalls:

• Unpredictable
• Lacks political savvy
• Aggressive

5. Hephaestus

Hephaestus is known as the craftsman. He produces high-quality work—whether as an IT specialist, carpenter, or surgeon—but doesn’t always receive the recognition he deserves. He seeks acknowledgment, tends to be conservative, prefers working alone, and avoids hierarchy.

Characteristics:

• Skill- and craft-focused
• Detail-oriented
• Conservative
• Prefers solitude
• Reserved

Pitfalls:

• Disregards hierarchy
• Stubborn
• Socially awkward

Recognizing Archetypes in Colleagues

When you compare these archetypes with some of your colleagues, do you recognize any of them?

For instance, someone who strongly exhibits Zeus traits might be a clear example of this archetype. A well-known example of an outspoken Zeus is Donald Trump, who can exhibit narcissistic behavior—a pitfall of Zeus. On the other hand, when a Zeus displays only their strengths without crossing into their pitfalls, they can be an excellent leader with a clear vision.

The more pronounced the archetype, the easier it is to influence. This is the beauty of these archetypes: they help you influence others in a way that works. Essentially, you treat others in a manner that they value (which works). You should forget the old notion that you should treat others the way you want to be treated.

How Does This Knowledge Help You and Others?

You might think, “This sounds very stereotypical.” It is indeed, and I use these stereotypes intentionally to clarify the explanation. Thinking in these categories provides an opportunity for effective influence.

Example: Suppose you want to request a budget to hire someone to cover for an employee on maternity leave. Here’s how you might approach different gods:

• Zeus: “I want to hire someone for 6 months to cover for X during her maternity leave.”
• Hermes: “As you know, X will be on maternity leave for 6 months. How cool would it be to replace her during that time to ensure project Z’s success?”
• Apollo: “X is going on maternity leave for 6 months. She’s working on project Z. If this delay causes a setback, we’ll incur Y amount in damages. Hiring a good replacement for 6 months is a much cheaper investment than the potential delay.”
• Poseidon: “As you know, X will be on maternity leave. Thankfully, everything is going well because you’ve given her plenty of space. To avoid a huge workload pile-up when X returns after 6 months, I propose hiring someone temporarily.”
• Hephaestus: “X will be on maternity leave for 6 months. She’s involved in project Z, which adds significant value. To prevent you from handling various side tasks, it might be a good idea to hire a temporary replacement. This will allow you to stay focused on the core content.”

See the differences?

What you’re doing is considering the archetype of the person and then determining how to approach them. You adjust your behavior, or rather, your archetypes, to suit theirs.

How Do These Archetypes Influence Behavior and Choices?

I often hear women say, “They should accept me as I am.” This is often a statement from the Artemis archetype. The reality is, you are who you are. My advice is to experiment with your behavioral repertoire. Think ahead about how to approach someone, what they’re sensitive to, and which goddess you’ll employ.

This approach allows you to adapt and effectively influence others based on their archetype, ultimately improving communication and collaboration.