CEO ALD Automotive Hungary
Today, we are talking with Olena Tymofiyiva, CEO of ALD Automotive Hungary. ALD Automotive offers corporate fleet management and long-term leasing services. They carry out more than 1,700,000 cars worldwide in 43 countries. Owned by the French group Société Générale, which is the dominant financial institution of the eurozone. ALD Automotive is a leader in both Europe and Hungary.
As CEO for Hungary, Olena provides great insight into leadership expectations through practical experience, observation, and leading teams.
What is something that you expect from ALL your leaders?
First of all – the attitude. Being passionate and determined toward what they are doing.
Another important detail is higher-than-average standards. Standards become habits. And then habits become outcomes. Exceptional results are almost always achieved by humans with higher-than-average standards.
Do you think you need to be a born leader or can you become a great leader by developing leadership skills?
Well, it is definitely both. Leadership is a mindset. There is no universal definition of what makes the best leader. In the same way chefs specialize in certain cuisines or musicians master specific genres, leaders can lead in different ways.
The only things, probably, that keep someone from becoming a sound leader are lack of character, effort and desire. Everything else can be developed. It’s not what you’ve been given, but rather what you do with it that matters.
Some people mistakenly believe that a leadership “title” gives them the “authority” to lead and be more effective. I would say, if you need a title to be heard, you don’t have a voice probably.
What is the role of self-reflection in your opinion as a leader?
Taking a step outside of yourself is very powerful. It helps leaders in three different directions:
1. Acknowledgment – facing the fear & disabling its ability to frighten you
2. Gratitude – having a moment of gratitude and compassion for yourself and other people
3. Setting goals to grow – taking actions toward meaningful things based on true values
What type of leadership development do you think works best?
I strongly believe that only ability to learn, unlearn and relearn makes people agile and ready for challenges. Seeking, acquiring and sharing knowledge should be a continuous process throughout the life of a leader, to benefit your career and keep you ahead of the game. It’s a well-known fact that humans who changed the world are those who were brave enough to change themselves first.
How can leaders maximize their potential?
The first and most important thing to know about leadership is that it’s not a position. It’s a process. Your ability to lead others is only as good as your ability to be the leader of you. Before you can maximize your leadership potential with others, you should be well-led yourself. One of the powerful tools to use is coaching and mentoring, as well as constant re-evaluation. It gives a sense of direction, accountability, and allows leaders to measure how they are doing.
What advice would you give today’s leaders to follow in our complex world?
Stay curious. Exceed expectations. Be ambitious. Shift from reactive to proactive.
Take calculated risks to learn continuously and stay out of your comfort zone. It’s ok to have fears, but it is important to find the strength to face and overcome them. By default, we do things we like and enjoy. When we start doing uncomfortable things, we grow.
If you see a problem and want to do something about it, act. If someone else is doing something inspiring, help. You have nothing to lose. Don’t expect anything in return.
Listen to diverse opinions and feedback. Surround yourself with people that inspire you. Who you work with is equally if not more important than what you work on and where you work at.