Guiding Your Internal Crew: Strategies for Leading Yourself
In the current issue of Apotheken Umschau (A 9/2025), psychotherapist Dagmar Kumbier from Hamburg introduces the concept of the "inner team." This intriguing personality model, developed by communication psychologist Friedemann Schulz von Thun, suggests that each individual is composed of different inner aspects or "voices" that speak up in specific situations or topics.
At the helm of this inner team is the individual themselves, serving as the team leader. By writing down these inner aspects and their desires, one can gain a better understanding of them. The inner team model envisions each inner aspect as a member of a team, working together to address various issues.
Schulz von Thun, the creator of this model, compares the team leader to a perfect parent: caring, supportive, and sometimes limiting. A good team leader, according to Kumbier, perceives all inner aspects and their underlying needs before trying to convince them of a common line.
One example of an inner aspect that may have been suppressed is the anxious aspect. This inner voice, often silenced due to early training not to show weakness, can cause significant distress if not addressed.
However, the inner team is not always a harmonious entity. Conflicts can arise due to inner aspects not getting along, being condemned, or being too quiet to perceive and integrate. The challenge, as Schulz von Thun explains, is to identify the appropriate inner aspects for a given problem, give them a voice, and bring them together in an "inner council" to work together.
To aid in this process, Schulz von Thun advises imagining each inner aspect as a person or figure and giving it a name. Giving a hurt inner aspect well-meaning attention and comfort can help in reaching a constructive team decision.
The "inner child" is a metaphor for certain feeling and behavioral patterns developed due to childhood experiences that continue in adulthood. Understanding and addressing these inner aspects can lead to personal growth and improved decision-making.
In conclusion, the "inner team" concept offers a unique approach to understanding oneself and making decisions. By recognising and working with our inner aspects, we can strive for a more balanced and harmonious inner life.
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