Andy and Frances are in conversation this week with Elpida Trizi about her unique journey in Leadership.
Elpida says that in much of her career she didn’t see herself as a leader, but she was always able to connect with people, which she realises is the common thread that spanned every role. She describes herself as having had a career in human centred communication.
Having had different roles and capacities in corporate communications Elpida made a leap of faith in moving to take a role in Germany, having to learn the language and culture as she went along.
Elpida says that “being a leader is nothing to do with position”, and she defines leadership as “going beyond the fear”.
Elpida describes her purpose as “a deep dive to know something”, and this manifests in her work as having the ability to “make space for the wonder to emerge”. She knows that this is a counter cultural because most of the world is about the equation, the more I act, the more I do therefore equals my worth. She turns this equation on its head.
She quotes Socrates, “Wisdom begins with wonder”.
Elpida is proud of the connections, listening and presence that she has offered over the years to colleagues. For her, it’s not about the tasks achieved, it’s all about the relationships that she has been able to form.
Elpida’s top tips for leaders are: -
· Do more of what you love
· If you don’t feel the love or appreciated, you have the agency to make a shift
· Leadership is going beyond the fear, it’s about courage