Acropolis Leadership is both a business name and a metaphor I use for leadership.
In Ancient Greece, an acropolis was a strategic high point in a town or city and a defensive fortification and safe haven in times of conflict. It was seen as a symbol of strength and typically found in a central location. Buildings on an acropolis often included a temple, such as the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens, the most famous of them all. The Parthenon was built to honour Athena – the Goddess of Wisdom.
In Greek, ‘acro’ can be translated as highest or most significant, and ‘polis’ represents the people of a city or community. Greece was, of course, the birthplace of democracy, and the people of the ‘polis’ had representation and a say in the running of the city (particularly in Athens). These two elements combine to make an ‘Acropolis’ a wonderful metaphor for leadership:
“A leader is a visible symbol of strength and wisdom who has a significant impact on the mindsets of those within their gaze, and whose success is determined by the empowerment of the people that surround them.”
I guess you could say effective leadership uses a combination of Power + Empowerment.
Like the Parthenon that sits atop the Acropolis of Athens, leaders are highly visible and symbols of strength and wisdom. They are a public face of their team or organisation and will affect mindsets and perceptions by how they look, what they do, what they say and how they say it.
So, in honour of Socrates, here are some questions for you:
- How ‘visible’ are you as a leader, and what do people see?
- Are you perceived as having strong character – can you maintain equanimity in times of stress?
- Do you make proclamations and announcements that position you as being strong and ‘wise’ – and do you continually seek wisdom and encourage your people to do the same?
Remember that you are creating mindsets by how you look, what you do, what you say and how you say it.
Lead well!
David Koutsoukis
