NORWOOD PRESIDENT – ASHLYNNE DALE HIGH PROFILE
Business leaders need to have their plans set out and , barring any seismic shift in the operating environment that invalidates those plans , they need to march forward confident in those plans , which sometimes will mean acting contrary to general market conditions and trends . They must avoid knee-jerk reactions . It ’ s like a stock market crash when everyone is selling into the bottom versus the frothy top of the market when everyone is paying more than fair value . You have to be able to recognise those situations and force yourself to move in the opposite direction – that ’ s no easy feat .
IFI : What about specific leadership skills ?
There a handful of skills that good business leaders have always needed and I don ’ t think that ’ s specific to forestry ; it ’ s true of all businesses .
Top of my list is a positive and progressive attitude because , if you don ’ t have that , then you don ’ t have anything . If you ’ re negative , defeatist , or self-indulgent then you can ’ t move forward as business and you ’ ll probably struggle to move forward as a person . That positive attitude gives you your foundation .
Once you have that positive foundation , then it ’ s about vision : being able to identify opportunities or weaknesses or risks . You have to keep your eyes open and look out at the horizon and the direction in which you need to navigate .
Then , once you ’ re comfortable with your vision and the direction you want to take the company , you have to have the courage , conviction and determination to put the pieces in place to achieve that progression . That can be incredibly daunting to look at a weakness or an opportunity and not know how to tackle it . Leaders have to be able to have that conversation with themselves ; to ask themselves how do I start to address this challenge and then just put one foot in front of the other until they figure it
Keeping the team motivated , encouraged and inspired is one of Dale ’ s most difficult jobs but one she has done well
out through determination and learning .
And finally , you need humility . A really good leader is one who doesn ’ t feel they always have all the answers . They have to recognise they can always improve and get better , and that it ’ s that learning process that will take the company forward . When a leader thinks they ’ ve got it all figured out , that ’ s a dangerous time for any business .
IFI : Do you see this changing into the future ?
AD : The ability to adapt and learn probably makes that last point about humility even more important . The world is changing so fast that you have to be constantly looking to improve yourself and to remain open to new ideas . That ’ s the only way your company will continue to be the best it can be .
IFI : What are the challenges of working with people who have different views on the business ?
AD : That ’ s a really , really hard thing to do ; to feel your way through with a mix of individuals to make sure you ’ re all paddling in the same direction . You have to inspire people and give them confidence . You have to encourage them . And you hope that , with those more positive methods , you don ’ t have to resort to chivvying people . I certainly feel that ’ s been one of
The Norwood difference relies on high-quality mobile sawmills at a better price point than the industry once expected
International Forest Industries | DECEMBER 2017 / JANUARY 2018 27