The JESTER Archetype
Playful spontaneity
makes any day brighter.
The JESTER IN INDIVIDUALS
The Jester shows others how to live in the moment, let go, and lighten up.
The pursuit of joy heightens their ingenuity and resourcefulness, helping them work around obstacles with clever out-of-the-box solutions. Jesters bring a playful energy and sense of humor that attracts others and makes work fun. They are fearless—standing up to speak truth to power.
The JESTER IN ORGANIZATIONS
Jester workplace cultures are places where stress is low and having fun is a high priority.
Hierarchies are flattened out and work-life is in balance, making leaders more approachable and the mood more casual. Jester teams value cleverness, quick reactions, and developing ingenious approaches, solutions or products/services.
When Jester slips into the shadow side, goals may not be taken seriously and unpleasant tasks are ignored or delayed in favor of fun. Team members can be treated dismissively if they can’t keep up with the quick wit, and sometimes jokes aren’t funny.
Strengths
Present-momentness, Humor, Joy
Guiding Vision
To keep it light and make it fun
Inspired by
Speaking truth to power
Organizations with High Jester
The Onion, Ben & Jerry’s, Southwest Airlines, Zappos
Shadows
Foolish, Insensitive, Avoidant
Favorite Phrase
Laugh and the world laughs with you
Frustrated by
People who take life too seriously
Individuals with High Jester
Robin Williams, Jim Gaffigan, Ellen, Stephen Colbert
ARE YOU A SAGE?
Are you inspired by thoughts, hypotheses, conundrums, unsolved equations or other intellectual challenges?
ARE YOU A RULER?
Do you know the best way to accomplish whatever is for the highest good of all? Are you willing to take on the responsibility?
ARE YOU A REVOLUTIONARY?
Do you tend to notice what’s not working and challenge the status quo? Are you unafraid to let go and move on?
ARE YOU A MAGICIAN?
Do you trust synchronicity, coincidence, Aha-moments and things that flow? Do you seem to make the impossible happen?
ARE YOU A LOVER?
Do you have a romantic view about the world that covers everything from ideas to individuals to experiences?
ARE YOU A JESTER?
Does your playful energy and sense of humor reduce the collective stress in the room? Do you show others how to let go and lighten up?
ARE YOU A HERO?
Do you bring a discipline, focus and can-do spirit that inspires others to be bigger, braver and stronger?
ARE YOU AN INNOCENT?
Are you grateful for the present moment? Do trust that things will always work out in the end?
ARE YOU AN EXPLORER?
Do you live life on your own terms? Are you inspired by the question ‘why not?’Â
ARE YOU A CREATOR?
Do you trust your imagination, your inner Muse and the creative process itself?
ARE YOU A CAREGIVER?
Do you give freely give without expecting anything in return? Is service your calling card?
ARE YOU AN EVERYPERSON?
Do you seek to create a sense of acceptance, belonging and justice? Do you believe ‘together we can overcome?’
