‘Distant but close’: Proximal leadership in a physically distant world | by Dr. Olga Epitropaki

The recent pandemic has posed a series of challenges for organisational leaders and the sudden shift to remote working has been an important one. As the ‘work-from-home’ trend is likely to continue post COVID-19, managers and employees need to be able to navigate the intricacies of a digital workplace, establish new work routines and sustain high levels of performance.

How can leaders remain close to their teams when they can only rely on online channels? How can they inspire and motivate their people from afar, help them manage stress and remain focused to their tasks?

These were some of the issues Professor Olga Epitropaki discussed in her talk. She specifically focused on the concept of leader distance (physical and psychological), presented relevant research and discussed possible ways for leaders to retain proximity in physically distant conditions.

The event took place on December 2, 2020 via Zoom
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Dr. Olga Epitropaki, Professor of Management, Director of Research (Management & Marketing), Durham University Business School.

The Lead Creatively: Discussion Series are hosted by the Center’s Director, Professor Mainemelis

The SEV Center of Excellence in Creative Leadership (SEV CECL) was established in July 2018 at Alba Graduate Business School thanks to the founding donation of SEV (The Hellenic Federation of Enterprises).

Through its world-class research and stimulating dissemination, the SEV CECL aspires to be a force of excellence that will spread the values and practices of creative leadership in the Greek society and the rest of the world.
Its mission is to advance the generation and dissemination of cutting-edge knowledge about creative forms of leading in the third and fourth decades of the 21st century.

The SEV Center of Excellence holds an annual series of stimulating discussions with distinguished researchers and scholars in order to disseminate to students, executives, and the larger society cutting-edge and management-relevant knowledge about creativity and leadership.