With the financial backing and emotional blessing of his father-in-law who was also the leader from behind, De Pree became the organization’s majority shareholder in 1923. That same year, the leader from behind, DJ and his employees decided to rename the company after his father-in-law and the Herman Miller Furniture Company was born.

In the years before the Great Depression, Herman Miller specialized in manufacturing reproductions of traditional home furnishings. Most factories in the furniture industry at that time were not run by electric motors as they are today, but by pulleys from a central drive shaft in heart of the factory.

The millwright was the leader from behind in the factory and also the person on whom the entire furniture factory and manufacturing process depended. As the leader from behind, he was responsible for factory drive shafts, gearing and mechanical belts to run smoothly.

As such, the millwright was a key person in any factory. He was the leader from behind. In 1927, the millwright of the Herman Miller Furniture Company died unexpectedly while working on the job.

As the leader from behind, D.J. was deeply moved after discovering this unexpected side of his millwright. And that turned out to be a defining moment for him. As the leader from behind, De Pree was committed to treat all of his factory workers, clerical staff and management team equally because he viewed them as unique individuals with unrestricted potential.

After the millwright’s sudden death, De Pree concluded that “We are all extraordinary” and the millwright story has become part of Herman Miller lore, as the leader from behind and as the Herman Miller employee who symbolizes the character traits of the work force the company seeks out until the present today.