Archetypes of Change Series
Rethinking Change: What Your Team Wishes You Knew
In this first solo episode of the Archetypes of Change™ solo series, Amy Lynn Durham invites you to rethink everything you thought you knew about change in the workplace.
Forget the buzzwords. This isn’t about forcing alignment or pushing people to “get on board.” It’s about something deeper: how we each relate to change—and how that’s shaped by our relationship to time itself.
You’ll learn:
- Why change efforts often feel personal (because they are)
- What most leaders miss when they try to “logic” people through transition
- The 5 Archetypes of Change™—and how they show up in every team
- Why giving your people language for how they move through change can transform your results
- How this framework goes far beyond personality tests—and why it matters now more than ever
Whether you’re leading a reorg, rolling out a new strategy, or just trying to hold the center in a rapidly evolving culture—this episode is your grounding point.
🧭 Learn more about executive coaching with Create Magic At Work® and the Archetypes of Change™ at https://createmagicatwork.net/executive-coaching or 📩 Reach out to Amy directly at amy@createmagicatwork.net
"We Tried That and It Didn’t Work”: The Power of the Placeholder
Ever been told: “We tried that and it didn’t work”?
Most people hear that as resistance. But what if it’s something else entirely?
In the 2nd episode of the Archetypes of Change Solo Series, Amy Lynn Durham introduces you to the Placeholder archetype—a vital, often misunderstood role in the workplace. You’ll meet Teresa, a steady leader who held her team together during a messy system rollout—not by pushing forward, but by protecting what was already working.
🎧 In this episode:
- What defines the Placeholder Archetype (and why every team has one)
- The real reason “we tried that already” gets said—and what’s hiding underneath it
- How Placeholders create safety, structure, and rhythm in times of uncertainty
- The risks of ignoring their wisdom—and how to engage them in change without steamrolling
This isn’t a personality quiz. It’s a lens for seeing your team—and yourself—more clearly. And it might just change the way you lead your next change initiative.
💼 Ready to bring the Archetypes of Change to your org? Create Magic At Work® offers transformational coaching and team experiences for leaders navigating transition. Email us at connect@createmagicatwork.net
Before You Call Them Negative… Listen to This
Ever worked with someone who seems to always spot the risks before you do?
Maybe you've even labeled them negative, paranoid, or too intense—but what if they were actually the Guardian of your team?
In this episode, Amy breaks down the Guardian Archetype—the ones who scan the horizon for danger, ask the hard questions, and protect people and systems from harm before the rest of us know it's coming.
🛡You’ll hear:
- A real-world story of a Guardian in action (and how they saved the day)
- What makes this archetype indispensable in fast-moving teams
- How to distinguish fear-based reactions from strategic foresight
- Why most people misunderstand Guardians—and how to support them better
⚡️ And if you're a Guardian yourself? This episode will feel like a deep exhale. You’re not negative. You’re necessary.
🎧 Tune in to learn how to work with (not against) the energy of Guardians—whether you lead one, love one, or are one.
📬 Want to bring the Archetypes of Change™ into your organization? We’d love to work with you. Visit createmagicatwork.net or email Amy at amy@createmagicatwork.net.
Who’s Protecting the Soul of Your Company?
Ever felt like your team is moving so fast you’re forgetting why you started?
This week on Create Magic at Work®, Amy introduces you to the Flamekeeper—a powerful Archetype of Change™ who protects meaning, mission, and memory during transformation. Flamekeepers aren’t afraid of change—but they are deeply committed to keeping the soul of an organization alive. You’ll meet Layla, a nonprofit leader whose values-driven leadership helped re-center her team when evolution started to look a lot like erasure.
Inside this episode:
🕯 The difference between resisting change and protecting purpose
🕯 Why Flamekeepers are often misread as "too idealistic"
🕯 How this Archetype acts as a moral compass in messy transformation
🕯 What every leader should be asking before rolling out change
Amy also shares how Create Magic at Work® uses the Archetypes of Change™ framework in executive coaching, leadership retreats, and team development to move change initiatives forward with more alignment—and less burnout.
🎧 Tune in if:
✔ You’ve ever rolled your eyes at someone who “talks about the old days”
✔ You’re the one constantly holding the torch for values
✔ Your company is in the middle of a big change—and forgetting its roots
👉 Want to learn more about the Archetypes of Change for your organization? Visit createmagicatwork.net to connect.
The Person Holding Your Team Together (& Burning Out Quietly)
Every team has one.
They don’t chase the spotlight. They don’t demand recognition. They just quietly carry everyone, while no one notices how much they’re carrying.
They’re the reason birthdays aren’t forgotten. They’re the ones who stay late to make sure it all works. They’re the first to ask: “How is this really impacting people?”
👉 But when change hits, their invisible labor stacks up… fast. 👉 And burnout starts long before anyone sees the cracks.
In this episode of the Archetypes of Change™ Summer Series, we meet The Hearthtender — the soul of stability inside your organization.
Inside:
- Why Hearthtenders are the glue you can’t afford to lose
- The silent warning signs that leadership often misses
- How executive coaching helps Hearthtenders move from quiet service to empowered influence
🔥 At Create Magic At Work®, we deploy the Archetypes of Change™ framework inside organizations to help leaders navigate change without losing their people. If you're ready to lead change the right way, let’s talk.
They Can See the Future—But Are You Listening?
In this final profile of our Archetypes of Change™ Solo Series, Amy Lynn Durham explores what it means to be an Edgewalker… and why your team needs them now more than ever.
Edgewalkers are the visionaries who walk between worlds—grounded in reality, guided by intuition, and driven to shape the future before anyone else sees it.
You’ll hear:
- Why Edgewalkers often feel like outliers (and how to support them)
- How Amy discovered she was an Edgewalker—and what that meant for her leadership journey
- The five Edgewalker skills and qualities (this archetype is the only one with a matrix!)
- How executive coaching at Create Magic at Work® helps translate visionary ideas into strategy
- A powerful story about a client whose “wild ideas” ended up saving her company
If you’ve ever felt like you don’t fit neatly into the box—and that might be a good thing—this episode is for you.
🌀 Learn more about the Edgewalker Profile - https://createmagicatwork.net/shop/ols/products/edgewalker-profile-access
How Smart Teams Do Change
What if the reason your change initiative isn’t working… isn’t the strategy, but how your people relate to change?
In this final episode of the Archetypes of Change™ Summer Series, Amy wraps the entire framework with real coaching stories, team data, and a call to action for every leader.
🎙 What’s inside:
- A quick recap of all 5 archetypes
- How one team discovered their blind spots using AOC data
- A private coaching story of how an Edgewalker learned to speak to everyone on the team
- Why Create Magic at Work® uses this tool in real-time leadership transitions
- A challenge to apply what you’ve learned this summer
If your team is walking the edge of a big change, this is the episode. DM @createmagicatwork or visit createmagicatwork.net to bring the Archetypes of Change™ to your org.