The world-renowned business guru Peter Drucker once said that “Effective leaders are not about making speeches or being liked; real leaders are defined by results not attributes.”
Now I don’t always agree with Drucker’s philosophies, but in this case, he was right on the mark. Effective Board leadership is not judged by how well someone is liked. The true test of leadership is determined by how well a leader is respected for their contributions to an organization and their members. Equally important is a great leader’s respect for the people who serve alongside him.
NHLA, our members and the Hardwood industry has recently benefited from a leader whose actions are a true reflection of Drucker’s definition of the word.
In 2018, Darwin Murray of McClain Forest Products joined generations of Hardwood industry leaders who came before him by assuming the role of President of the NHLA Board of Managers for two years.
In his acceptance speech, Darwin outlined NHLA’s recently minted Strategic Plan. For the first time in NHLA history, the plan had been developed with the participation of all NHLA member categories. Under his leadership, the plan became a living document and guide for the NHLA Board and staff. Yet another example of a true leader who knows that engaging his team is fundamental to success.
The history of our industry is one of struggle ups and downs in the markets, world wars, and regulatory challenges to our very existence. So, we should not have been surprised when just a few short months after he gave his speech, the industry found itself in the middle of a devastating global trade war, and a little more than a year later, just as the trade war was declared over, a global pandemic.
But no matter the adversity NHLA or the obstacles we encountered, Darwin’s leadership never wavered and NHLA’s Board and staff never lost focus on responding to the constant challenges our members faced.
His term of service was characterized by his support and follow through of unprecedented collaboration and consolidation of efforts to make positive changes for our industry. Under his guidance, NHLA joined forces with other leading associations to fund and develop industrywide Hardwood Industry Economic Impact Study. NHLA invested $50,000 to support the effort.
Fast forward to 2019 and industry associations joined forces once again to create the Real American Hardwood Promotion Coalition. Association executives and industry leaders pledged to work together toward a shared goal of promoting and driving the demand for Real American Hardwood. Once again, NHLA invested $50,000 of our members money to support the effort.
During Darwin’s two-year term, more new member value was developed than in the previous twenty. NHLA mined our Inspectors’ knowledge and expertise to create our Operations Management Services to increase the profitability and productivity of our sawmill members.
New webinar programs were introduced to provide a new level of education designed to once again increase our members productivity and profitability. Surveys were implemented to better understand and respond to our members evolving needs. The results were used to provide better, more timely information on issues of concerns.
Because he is a humble man, Darwin will tell the results of his term were the product of the Board and staff working together to serve our members at the highest level.
Because that is just what leaders do.
