Dr. Jung:
“I am thankful for guidance offered by these Gods, even if they only exist in your head and heart. I think you are remarkably attuned to the lessons offered by the Olympians and are certainly ready to return to your newspaper with new perspectives and potentially new ways of working with your fellow employees.”
Mitch:
“And I think you have something to say about what has taken place here in Zurich. When I look for causes, I certainly can point to you, along with the somewhat random decision to join my wife here in Zurich.”
Dr. Jung:
“Speaking of your wonderful wife, I have given her two books that I think enable her to successfully continue her own journey. These are books called “She” and “We” by Robert Johnson, a Jungian like me. I also want to give you a book. It is the third in Johnson’s trilogy. It is called “He”. While you and I didn’t talk much about your relationship with Joan—it would not have been appropriate since I was working with her—I want you to know that this relationship is very important not only for your own psychological health and wellbeing, but also for your organization. It is remarkable to witness the powerful role played by marriage relationships in the capacity of an organizational leader to be effective. I find that a strong, nurturing and supportive marital relationship is often critical to the successful transition of a leader to new ways of being in their organization.”
Dr. Jung hands Mitch a copy of Johnson’s slim book on the Male psyche. Mitch expresses his appreciation:
“Thank you, Dr. Jung, for everything, including your work with Joan. I think this will have to be a short session, since I must pack everything today for our flight back to the States early tomorrow morning. If they haven’t already done so, I think the Gods on Olympus should appoint you as an honorary God!!”
Dr. Jung smiles:
“I would appreciate it if you offered your support for my nomination the next time you are talking to the Gods. Meanwhile, I wish you and Joan a safe trip back to America.”
Mitch and Dr. Jung briefly hug and Mitch leaves the office, filled with a mixture of many emotions, ranging from gratitude and resolve to a deep loving appreciation for the work which was done with the good doctor.
Jung’s Perspectives and Practices: An Expanding Analysis
We leave Mitch, as he and Joan prepare to travel back to the United States, having benefited greatly from their work with Kurt Jung. I wish to offer some of my own reflections on the work that Dr. Jung has done. In this hypothetical interaction between Mitch and Dr. Jung. I have tried to present ways in which Jungian perspectives and practices might be applied in the domain of executive coaching. I now offer some of the original ideas that guided my preparation for this hypothetical interaction. In several instances, I turn to the words written by Carl Jung himself (who didn’t have a nephew called Kurt as far as I know!)
Personality Types and Organizational Climates and Cultures
Kurt Jung’s uncle made a major contribution regarding our appreciation of differences between people. Carl Jung was one of the first to identify specific personality types. The terms “extraversion” and “introversion” have become particularly popular. Since the time that Carl Jung wrote Personality Types (Jung, 1971), a popular test (MBTI) has been created that measures the types presented by Jung (along with two personality preferences that Jung did not present).
