An interview with Maria Angelova
… listen to the opinions of people whom you consider competent on the given matter. It’s better to do this not on the day of decision-making, but the day before, so that overnight, thoughts can be formed and developed into a unified picture.
As a leader, some things are just unavoidable. Being faced with hard choices is one of them. Leadership often entails making difficult decisions or hard choices between two apparently good paths. What’s the best way to go about this? Is there a “toolkit” or a skill set to help leaders sort out their feelings and make the best possible decisions? As part of our series about “How Leaders Make Difficult Decisions,” we had the pleasure of interviewing Alesia Karnaukhova.
Alesia Karnaukhova is the CEO of ZIKZAK Architects, a company specializing in commercial real estate interior and architectural design. With the onset of war in Ukraine, she decided not to leave the country, but to fight and continue to develop the company while remaining in her native Kyiv. Alesia successfully manages a team of about 40 employees and considers the company’s achievements to be the result of the coordinated work of a cohesive team.
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
I had a job in my field while still studying at university. The project manager was a practicing architect and offered me the opportunity to participate in his projects designing cafes and restaurants. After graduating, I moved to Kyiv with my husband and landed my first job there.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
In my life, I have always met wonderful people who have helped and supported me. But it was my father who was the first person to love and believe in me unconditionally. He taught me to move forward, regardless of anything, even when it was very scary. To close my eyes and keep moving forward.
Thank you for all that. Let’s now turn to the main focus of our discussion. Can you share with our readers a story from your own experience about how you lead your team during uncertain or difficult times?
The war in Ukraine has been going on for almost a year. For just as long, we have been living and working in conditions of war: under stress; from bomb shelters; in the absence of electricity or even means of communication. We had to quickly recover from the shock caused by the war, so we gathered and began to restore the work process. First of all, I had to do this, to boost morale, encourage the team, direct everyone to work. And at the same time, to restore a sense of stability, shift focus and provide the team with the opportunity to continue doing what they love. My top priority as a leader is to organize safe and comfortable working conditions for each employee. This is the first thing I focus on and actively implement since the beginning of the war. The company’s main office is located in Kyiv. The situation here changes so quickly: as soon as we dealt with the problem of emergency power outages in the office, bought and installed generators, the internet connection disappeared after another shelling. We did not panic, we immediately connected several additional internet providers with backup power. We installed a Starlink for stable autonomous communication. As you can understand, we are constantly adapting to changing conditions.
Did you ever consider giving up? Where did you get the motivation to continue through challenges? What sustains your drive?
The team drives me. The people who make up the company are a dream team. Being together and working with them adds energy, each of us complements each other. Our team is a cohesive community of creative people capable of creating the best commercial real estate projects.
Leadership often entails making difficult decisions or hard choices between two apparently good paths. Can you share a story with us about a hard decision or choice you had to make as a leader?
Big decisions are a combination of small choices, each step of which leads us to success. In the current situation in Ukraine, we have to make choices every day. Which new market to enter, which direction to develop the company’s design methodology in order to meet the needs of the chosen market? The most difficult choice that was faced at the beginning is whether to leave Ukraine or not. We are actively developing project activities in other countries, but the main part of the team has stayed and is working in Kyiv. We didn’t want to leave our homeland, our people, and chose to fight instead of comfort.
What process or toolset can a leader use to make a choice between two difficult paths?
To base information and analytics on the expertise of specialists and leading experts. To rely on the experience of past cases. To model the development of the situation for different options. This is a long way, but we try to choose only the most significant criteria and make key decisions based on their comparison. In our conditions, the time to make a decision is much shorter than in ordinary life. The risk always remains, we are aware of it and control it.
Do you have a mentor or someone you can turn to for support and advice? How does this help? When can a mentor be helpful? When is this not helpful?
A mentor is very important to me, and I have one. Now I ask for advice less often, but sometimes a decision has already been made and I need to discuss it with someone who can comprehensively assess the risks and prospects. At the stage of my development, this person directed, inspired, and did not let me stumble.
What would you say is the most critical role of a leader when faced with a difficult decision?
The role of a person who takes responsibility for the consequences of making a difficult decision is the most important role of a leader. The team analyzes the existing situation and can give advice, but ultimately the decision is made by one person. It is important that they understand the weight of this decision.
Do you ever look back at your decisions and wish you had done things differently? How can a leader remain positive and motivated despite past mistakes?
I try not to look back in order to regret something. Instead, I look back to draw lessons for the future and make even more effective decisions.
What is the best way to boost morale when the future seems uncertain? What can a leader do to inspire, motivate and engage their team during uncertaiun times?
The best fighting spirit is raised by unity. We have a very cohesive team, and we feel this unity as soon as we enter the office. We try to share each other’s difficulties and joys. This unity does not allow us to be sad and supports our faith in a bright future.
Can you share 3 or 4 of the most common mistakes you have seen other businesses or leaders make when faced with a hard decision? What should one keep in mind to avoid that?
First mistake: not considering a sufficient number of criteria when analyzing the situation and not considering enough decision options. At the same time, excessive detail is also incorrect, as it leads to analysis paralysis, which harms efficiency — this is the second mistake. The third mistake is attempting to make a decision in an overly emotional state, as decisions should be made with a clear mind, relying on one’s intuition. The modern world is too dynamic, and mistakes typically occur due to the forced speed of decision-making. A strong team should try to anticipate all possible risks.
Here is the primary question of our discussion. Based on your experience and success, what are the five most important things a leader should do when making difficult decisions? Please share a story or an example for each.
1 . To listen to the opinions of people whom you consider competent on the given matter. It’s better to do this not on the day of decision-making, but the day before, so that overnight, thoughts can be formed and developed into a unified picture.
2 . On the day of making a decision, have a cup of coffee (or another favorite drink). This will immerse you in a state of focused attention. There is a coffee machine in every office, so it is not difficult or time-consuming to do this.
3 . Talk to a pleasant person about a different topic to relieve the tension from the burden of a future decision.
4 . Take a break from the world in a quiet room with a picturesque view from the window. It’s great if it’s during sunrise, but then it’s not guaranteed that a pleasant person will be nearby in the office.
5 . Making a decision while being aware that its possible consequences will not become problems, but rather new tasks that we will definitely be able to handle
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
There are many of them, but most of them are about self-belief. Now I understand that there is very little that is impossible in life. And this is not just a phrase from another motivational book. Often, we limit ourselves with our own inner fears and attitudes. We cannot give up after a failure. It is important to pick ourselves up and keep going. This makes us stronger, more resilient, and more successful.
How can our readers further follow your work?
FB: https://www.facebook.com/alesya.sereda.9
Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alesia-karnaukhova-5a08a1252
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
Thank you for the amazing opportunity!
About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.
Alesia Karnaukhova Of ZIKZAK Architects On How Leaders Make Difficult Decisions was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.