The Heart-Centred Leader: Reclaiming Joy as Sovereignty
In the world of leadership and organisational development, we often talk about strategy, systems, and performance. But what if the most powerful leadership tool isn’t found in a spreadsheet or a boardroom, but in your heart?
One of the most transformational and misunderstood archetypes in shadow work: The Sovereign, also known as the Queen, the King, or the Heart-Centred Leader.
This archetype doesn’t rule through dominance or fear. She leads through love, alignment, and joy. And yet, many of us, especially women, have been taught to fear or suppress this part of ourselves.
Joy: The Portal to Sovereignty
Joy is not frivolous. It’s not indulgent. It’s not naive. Joy is the frequency of thriving. It’s the embodied belief: “I am worthy of life.”
When we are rooted in our inner Heart Centred Leader, we radiate presence, confidence, and compassion. We lead, not from ego, fear, or burnout, but from the heart.
But here’s the paradox: joy is often the first thing we exile.
Especially if:
You were told joy makes you “too much.”
You learned success invites jealousy.
You feared joy because it never lasted.
The Sovereign Archetype in Leadership
The Sovereign is the part of you that leads with wisdom, vision, and care for the whole; your inner world, your team, your community.
When integrated, your Heart Centred Leader is:
Grounded in self-trust.
Able to hold complexity with grace.
Open to joy, while rooted in discernment.
But when this archetype is in shadow, we either inflate or deflate.
👑 Inflation: The Over-Identified Heart Centred Leader
This is the Heart Centred Leader who leads for admiration, not alignment. She shines, but it’s performative. She’s driven by fear of insignificance.
Claire, a high-achieving executive, had the title, the team, the spotlight. But she was exhausted. Her joy was real—but always for others’ approval. Her Sovereign was inflated, masking a deep fear: “If I stop shining, I’ll disappear.”
Claire was the kind of woman people admired instantly. She had the title—Director at a global firm. She had the team—forty people who looked to her for direction. She had the presence—always polished, always articulate, always “on.”
But in our first coaching session, Claire confessed something that really resonated with me:
“I feel like I’m performing my life. I’m exhausted, but I don’t know how to stop.”
Claire’s Sovereign archetype was in inflation. She had built her identity around being the one who always had it together. Her joy was real—but it was curated. It was the kind of joy that looked good on LinkedIn, not the kind that nourished her soul.
She couldn’t delegate because she didn’t trust anyone to do it “right.” She feared that if she stopped shining, she’d become invisible. Her leadership was driven by a deep, unspoken belief:
“If I’m not exceptional, I’m nothing.”
As we worked together, Claire began to explore the roots of this belief. She grew up in a family where achievement was love. Joy was allowed—but only if it came with results. Over time, she had learned to equate visibility with value.
Through coaching and familiarising herself with her own shadow, Claire began to reconnect with her vulnerability. She practiced letting others see her without the mask. She started saying no. She even took a weekend off, completely offline, for the first time in years.
And something beautiful happened: her team didn’t fall apart. In fact, they stepped up. Claire’s leadership became more magnetic, not less. Because now, it was real.
“I thought joy was something I had to earn. Now I know it’s something I get to live from.”
Deflation: The Collapsed Heart Centred Leader
This is the Queen who hides. She fears her own power. She downplays her gifts and avoids visibility.
Lena, a natural leader, always held back. She’d say, “It feels arrogant to lead.” Her joy had been shamed early on, “Don’t get too big for your boots.” Her Sovereign was deflated, her light dimmed to stay safe. Lena was a quiet powerhouse. She had a gift for bringing people together, for seeing the big picture, for holding space in a way that made others feel safe and seen, but she never saw herself as a leader.
“It feels arrogant to think I could lead, I’m not that kind of person.”
Lena’s Sovereign archetype was in deflation. She had exiled her inner Heart Centred Leader; she avoided visibility, downplayed her ideas, and deferred to others, even when she had the clearest vision in the room. When we explored her story, Lena shared that as a child, she was often told not to “show off.” Her joy was met with suspicion. Her confidence was labelled as “bossy” and over time, she learned to shrink.
“I thought being humble meant being invisible”
Lena began to reclaim her voice. She started small, speaking up in meetings, sharing her ideas without apology. She began journaling moments of pride, even when they felt uncomfortable. She practiced standing tall, literally and metaphorically. Then one day, she led a team workshop, not because she was asked, but because she offered. It was a turning point.
“I didn’t feel like I was pretending. I felt like I was coming home.”
Lena’s joy returned. Not as a burst of excitement, but as a steady flame. She began to see that her leadership wasn’t about being loud or flashy. It was about being rooted. Present. She had reclaimed her Heart Centred Leader.
Reclaiming the Integrated Queen
When we reclaim the Sovereign, we reclaim joy as leadership. This is the Queen who:
Knows her worth without proving it.
Leads from love, not lack.
Understands that joy is sacred fuel, not selfish.
Shadow Work Prompts for your Heart Centred Leader
What was my relationship with joy growing up?
When do I feel most in my leadership?
What stories do I carry about being “too much” or “not enough”?
Practices to Embody your Heart Centred Leader
📝 Joy Journaling
Write one moment of joy or pride each day. Even the smallest spark counts.
👑 Power Posture Meditation
Sit like a Queen. Imagine your crown. Breathe into your heart. Say aloud:
“My joy is not a threat. It is my strength.”
💡 Sovereign Decision-Making
Ask: “What would the Queen in me choose?”
Not the people-pleaser. Not the perfectionist. The Queen.
Joy is a Revolutionary Act
To feel joy in a world that profits from your burnout is revolutionary.
The Heart Centred Leader archetype reminds us: Joy is not indulgent—it’s intelligent. It guides us toward purpose, alignment, and impact.
So if joy feels scary, start small. Let it in drop by drop. Because when your Sovereign rises, you don’t just shine, you lead.
✨ Ready to Reclaim Your Sovereignty?
If this resonates, I invite you to explore deeper with me:
1:1 Coaching for women ready to lead from joy and authenticity.
Workshops & Retreats for teams and leaders.
Speaking & Facilitation for organisations seeking heart-centred leadership.
Let’s rise together. Let’s lead with joy. Let’s reclaim the Heart Centred Leader.