Leadership in Business: The Qualities of Darwin Smith

Running head: LEADERSHIP IN BUSINESS
Leadership in Business
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1LEADERSHIP IN BUSINESS
Answer 1)
The leadership qualities of Darwin Smith aided in the transformation of the company
Kimberley- Clark and it became a leading consumer paper-product company within the
world. The company was able to beat the rivals like Scott Paper along with Procter & Gamble
with the help of his unique leadership qualities. It was the personality of Darwin Smith that
was able to transform the company from good to the great and it has been successful in
maintaining the transformed status (Swanson and Frederick 2016). Mr Smith built strength in
the company that aided in its transformation. He had great vision that helped him in raising
and re-defining that of the corporate goals. He was instrumental in examining the leadership
group of the company and he sent out those people who would not help in the growth of the
company. Darwin Smith had the decision making capabilities that helped him in taking
effective decisions within the company. Darwin Smith had the leadership quality of far-
sightedness that made him increase the geographical diversification pertaining to the facilities
of KImberly-Clark. He allotted a great amount of money for the purpose of research and
development that helped the company in succeeding within the competitive business
environment. He had the leadership quality of creativity along with innovation and he hence
encouraged the aspect of research that was carried out in the company (Pruzan et al. 2017).
He knew that for the success of a business it was important to innovate that can help the
business in competing against the competitors. His visionary quality was revealed in the fact
that he did not give up the failing diaper business although there were many people who
opposed his move. He was instrumental in strengthening the position of the company in
regard to the tissue segment of paper industry that pushed the company to improve the tissue
technology.
Answer 2)

2LEADERSHIP IN BUSINESS
The analysis of the personality of Darwin Smith reveals that a great leader is born.
The leadership traits that were present in Darwin Smith are generally present in an individual
since his birth. The stoic attitude towards life that Darwin Smith had are generally embedded
in an individual since the time they are born. He had firm determination that helped him in
steering the fortunes of Kimberly-Clark. Darwin Smith was diagnosed with nose along with
throat cancer two months after he became the CEO of the company. He was told that he
would not be able to survive more than a year but still he went on with his job with his zeal
that was a distinctive quality of him. He had firm resolve and was very courageous which are
generally present in an individual since the time they are born (Voss 2018). Smith continued
with the demanding work schedule even when he was told that he was not well. He helped in
the rebuilding of the company Kimberly-Clark with the help of his ferocious resolve that was
inherent in him. He made a dramatic decision that completely changed the fate of the
company. He sold the mills because he felt that the traditional coated paper business would
not be able to succeed in the long run. The economics of the coated paper was business was
bad that made him to sell mills. There were others who felt that being thrust into that of the
consumer paper-product business can help it for achieving greatness (Klaus and Fernando
2016). Smith however went on with his decision and inspite of vehement criticism he sold the
mills along with the namesake mill that was situated at Winconsin. He stated that they would
make investments in certain brands like Huggies diapers and that of Kleenex tissues. Darwin
Smith had the leadership qualities present in him from the time of his birth that was a
dominating reason for the success of his company named Kimberley- Clark.
Answer 3)
Nature of the leadership style that was exhibited by the personality of Darwin Smith
was charismatic leadership. A charismatic leader can influence the mind of his subordinates
with the help of his positive attitude. Darwin Smith was able to develop the “halo effect” that