Archetype: Defenders

Driver: Motivated to protect something they believe is important from being changed or undermined.

Behaviors and Characteristics:

See their role as the guardians of something precious.
Often feel they have a special view of why something should be preserved that others are not privy to.
Ready to step forward on behalf of their community – to take the credit or the arrows.
Learn that through compromise and allying with partners, they can accomplish more.
May come to their ‘Defender’ role later in life as they see the value of preserving the past.

Challenges:

To continue to welcome change, new ideas or new attitudes.
To avoid being emotional; to maintain their ability to step back and see the bigger picture.
To share their point of view in a way that doesn’t make them appear intransigent or blind to change.
To avoid having their views distorted or their credibility undermined.

Greatest Fear:

They are fighting a losing battle.

Must Avoid

Righteous anger that may overtake their calm certainty.

Call to Action:

Leave it alone!

Example Protector Thought Leaders:

Lynne Twist, co-founder, Pachamama Alliance (See Chapter 1 of Ready to Be a Thought Leader?)
John Muir, naturalist, early advocate for the preservation of the wilderness
Greta Thunberg, Swedish environmental activist known for challenging world leaders to take immediate action for climate change mitigation
Ukrainian President Zelensky, advocating for global sanctions and military support against the Russian invasion

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