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Five Examples of Organizational Shadow


Here are five aspects of shadow identified by Parker J. Palmer that often lie at the root of organizational conflict. Take a moment to consider your organization, and assess if any of the following examples might be reflected in your culture. Below each example is a tip on how focusing on the leader's Inner Work can help bring about new awareness.

1.  Insecurity about one's own identity and self-worth.

  • The leader's identity becomes attached to external institutional functions so that the leader falls apart when their function is taken away.
  • Thus the leader often creates institutional settings that deny others their own reality.

Inner Work Awareness:
Understanding that who I am doesn't depend on what I do.

2.  Life is fundamentally a battle ground and hostile to human interests.

  • Tactics and strategy are the focus, “do or die” mentality exists and a “win or lose” strategy prevails.
  • Competition is fierce.

Inner Work Awareness: 
There is another way to operate based on consensus and collaboration.
Endings are part of the natural cycle of life and organizations and lead to new possibilities.

3.  The belief that the ultimate responsibility for everything rests with the leader.

  • Workaholic behavior, burnout and stress are evident.
  • Unhealthy priorities, broken relationships, isolation occur.

Inner Work Awareness:
Everyone has gifts to contribute; inviting others to offer their input and talents is empowering and calls forth new commitment.

4.  A fear of the natural chaos of life.

  • The leader tries to organize things so thoroughly that nothing will go wrong (i.e., eliminates dissention, challenge, change and innovation).
  • Predominance of rules, procedures, and personnel manuals with every possible situation defined.

Inner Work Awareness: 
Creation comes out of chaos and chaos can stimulate energy and creativity.

5.  Denial of death and natural endings.

  • The artificial maintenance of things or programs that are no longer alive, relevant or and should have ended years ago.
  • Perception that failure is not linked to learning.

Inner Work Awareness: 
Some things may have to die to allow for the emergence of new life.

Adapted from: Palmer, Parker J. Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation.  Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, 2000. © 2003. 

"Very important information for all professionals, not often taught."

- Negotiation Workshop Participant
Northeastern University