I’ve been asked to put an opinion piece together for the paper, and at first, I didn’t really have anything I thought I could put together.

The assignment was to put together an article for my field or industry. While my industry is manufacturing, my field is being a leader for those around me. Ultimately, how you lead those around you will determine the success you have in your industry.

I spent several years working for a company in a little town about 18 miles north of Cassville. When I first started working there, it was a job I needed to help support my young family.

As I started to grow in that company, I knew I wanted to move into a leadership role, but what type of leader would I be?

I had several different bosses, all who had different methods to try and get what they needed out of their employees. It was at that time that I had the opportunity to attend a Servant Leadership course.

The course focused on teaching teamwork and how to trust your team without you having to have your hand in everything they do on a daily basis. It showed how to give your team the confidence to handle their own workload without you standing over their shoulder.

If you are interested in the course or some material from it, read the book “The Servant: A Simple Story About The True Essence Of Leadership” by James C. Hunter.

It was a fantastic course and I quickly realized that was the type of leader I wanted to be.

You see, in my opinion people want to work with leaders that support them to do their best and grow, either within the company you work for or as individuals.

That is why I don’t refer to myself as a boss, manager, etc.; I want to be a leader that provides my team with everything they need to be successful.

In turn, if your team is successful, you will be successful, and your company will be successful.

Ultimately, that is what we are all striving for in the business world. It’s always important to remember that there is a difference between a want and a need, so that can be a little tricky when trying to navigate the landscape of your office, shop, or facility.

I believe it’s often overlooked that some of the most successful companies start with fostering the environment for their team to know they have the leadership to support them.

Gerry Mann is the president of the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He may be reached at gerry.mann@arningco.com.