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Furniture Leadership Award 2012: What Makes A Leader?

An army of deer would be more formidable commanded by a lion, than an army of lions commanded by a stag. - Viking Proverb

Drum-roll please… “And the winner of this year’s Award goes to…” Yes, as the Furniture Leadership Award (FLA) swings around again, the question on everyone’s mind (beside who is going to be selected), will be: What constitutes a leader in the first place?

Before answering, there needs to be stated the definition of leadership and how it differs from management. Leadership is defined as the ability to influence a group toward the achievement of a vision or a set of goals. Management on the other hand is there to plan, organise, lead and monitor employees’ activities. Or, as Peter F Drucker, the father of modern management and author puts it: “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.”

Since its inception in 2008, the Award honours the most outstanding furniture movers and shakers in the furniture trade and industry ie: leaders in their own right. As the Award continues to showcase true industry innovators, it also seeks to elevate the standards in the industry and, spur enterprising new blood to join the ranks of successful leaders in the region. The FLA three-fold objectives have remained constant throughout as it seeks:

• To recognise excellence in the Asian furniture industry;
• To provide an oppor tunity for entrepreneurs to assess and review their leadership, management and operational standards;
• To inspire, motivate and create effective role models of excellence for other furniture entrepreneurs in the region.

In the first instance, Award applicants will have to demonstrate wisdom, experience and leadership within the industry in the areas such as sustainable business practices, social responsibility and profitable growth.

While we recognise that the implementation of sustainable practices is never a one-man show, it takes a leader who is committed, involved, enthusiastic and persistent at every level to make it happen. As everyone knows, driving a workforce committed to social responsibility and profitable growth is never an easy task too.

As for the second objective (to provide opportunity for entrepreneurs to assess and review their leadership, management and operational standards) – it serves to raise the bar of stewardship within our industry. CEO and co-founder of Apple and Pixar, Steve Jobs, said it best: “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

In its final objective (to inspire, motivate and create effective role models), winners of the Award get to ‘pay it forward’. The belief is that excellence is an ongoing journey requiring flexibility, insight and constant learning. Only by sharing the challenges and accomplishments, can they help others in their quest towards allrounded excellence.

Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States, gets a mention, with his words of leadership: “Men make history, and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skilful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.”

As the Award continues to garner greater participation from top furniture companies across the region, we are able to highlight an even greater cross-section of the very best in our industry. This year, on March 8, 2012, Asia’s most prestigious awards for the furniture industry will return to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for a Grand Prize Presentation Ceremony cum Gala Dinner.

Join us as we honour and acknowledge these stalwarts in the furniture trade industry. Dinner tickets are available at US$135 each.

For more information on the Furniture Leadership Award 2012, log on to: www.furnitureleadership.com or write to: LizGoh@TradePlanners.com / CaseyLoo@TradePlanners.com.

Eileen Chan
Group Editor