Which Archetype are you?
🥇 Are you a leader who feels like you're holding yourself back?
↗ Would you like to let go of some of your old behaviors and lead differently?
👥 Do you want to cultivate a deeper relationship with your team?
If you answered yes to any of these questions take my Unarmored Leadership Quiz!
Susan Eckstein
I partner with executives and senior leaders to dismantle their armor so they can fearlessly lead without limitations.
About Unarmored Leadership
Becoming an unarmored leader is a transformative journey that centers on dismantling your armor - releasing the fear-based mentality, need for control, limiting beliefs, and defensive postures that have served you well but are now impacting your ability to be a trusted and effective leader. It's about getting clear on who you are and aligning with your values so you can fearlessly lead without limitations and empower others to do the same.
About Susan Eckstein
I know first-hand the power of dismantling your armor.
For as long as I can remember, I felt like I didn't deserve a seat at the table. Whenever I joined senior leaders around a virtual or physical conference room, my heart would race, I would start to sweat, and my mind would tell me I had nothing valuable to contribute. I believed this was a classic case of imposter syndrome, and I did my best to manage it.
But when I became an executive coach and started sitting around bigger tables with C-suite executives, I knew I had to address this issue once and for all.
During a session with my coach, I reflected on my job history to see where this belief was coming from when it hit me:
In my first job after college, my boss told me to sit against the wall instead of at the conference table with his management team.
Boom 💥
At that moment, I realized I had been carrying around his comment for decades and believing it was the truth. His words became my armor – sitting alone against the wall protected me from being in the spotlight, stopped me from seeing my true power and gifts, and prevented me from having impactful conversations and building trusted relationships. Armor limits your ability to lead and connect with others, but more importantly, with yourself.
Once I released my armor, I experienced a freedom that I had never known before. I am grounded in who I am, confident that I belong in every room that I'm in, and know that what I have to say is valuable.
Now, I recognize the armor in others and help them release it so they can cultivate an unarmored leadership style.
If you'd like to learn how to fearlessly lead without limitations, schedule a free discovery call here.
Leadership Archetypes
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The Knight
The Knight stands as the archetype of traditional leadership, armored in rigidity, reacting to change with resistance, and wielding power through control. His challenge is to recognize the limitations of his defensive stance, not only on his growth but also on his ability to lead and build meaningful relationships with his team. The Knight's opportunity lies in embracing the courage to be vulnerable, to listen with curiosity, and to engage with his team in a way that values cooperation over command, paving the way to an unarmored leadership style that inspires, unites, and motivates.
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The Fencer
The Fencer navigates leadership with caution, aware that her defensive mechanisms, while providing a sense of security, also create a barrier to genuine connection and change. She brandishes her weapon when she feels threatened but knows she needs to put it down to build meaningful relationships with her team. The Fencer's opportunity for growth lies in embarking on a journey towards trust – to put down her weapon and engage with new ideas and ways of being so she can become a more approachable and transformative leader.
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The Wrestler
The Wrestler is on the path towards unarmored leadership, frequently navigating change and embracing opportunities for growth. The Wrestler possesses many attributes of the unarmored leader but still wrestles with embodying new ways of being. He may hesitate and second guess himself and fall back on what's familiar and comfortable instead of leaning into something he's never done before. The Wrestler's opportunity lies in practicing self-awareness and staying aligned with his values.
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The Martial Artist
The Martial Artist represents the pinnacle of unarmored leadership, favoring authenticity, flexibility, openness, and connection with everyone she meets. Through her deep self-awareness and commitment to continuous growth, she challenges and mentors others, fostering a culture of trust and respect. The Martial Artist serves as a beacon of transformative leadership, setting the standard for what a genuinely empowered leader looks like.