Lee Erwin reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com

Thursday, February 06, 2014 10:19 AM
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Clarksville Young Professionals (CYP) held their monthly meeting Wednesday, February 5 with guest speaker O’Bee O’Bryant, Executive Director for both locations of the YMCA in Clarksville. It was also “Bring a Friend February” with close to 70 people attending.

O’Bryant shared some of the long history of the YMCA talking about how the YMCA was started in 1844 in England with the first site in the U.S. in Boston in 1851 and Clarksville opened its “Y” in 1859. There are two locations in Clarksville for the YMCA, at 260 Hillcrest Drive and at 390 Needmore Road.

Part of O’ Bryant’s time with the CYP centered on leadership and he talked about the difference between managers and leaders. “Some of the things you might see on the managerial side are planning budgeting, problem solving with staff and dealing with issues. But a leader establishes direction established vision for that organization,” O’Bryant said.

O’Bryant added that one is not more important or less important than the other and in many organizations a person has to serve in both roles. “Cause Driven Leadership” was the phrase used by O’ Bryant and he discussed ways that people can look at their own leadership styles in their business and ask themselves if they are cause driven.

“Everyone of us needs to ask that question. Why are we getting up every singe day and working hard jobs if there’s no passion, there’s no vision and what value as a leader are you instilling on your employees?,” said O’ Bryant.

O’ Bryant encouraged those attending to develop the skills to become “cause driven leaders” and go from telling to coaching. “If you’re always telling you employees or people what to do your not empowering them with the decision making skills to develop into a leader,” O’ Bryant said.

The Clarksville Young Professionals is part of the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce and provides an opportunity for young professionals to build relationships, develop professionally, contribute to economic development, and become politically and philanthropically active in the community.

To find out more about Clarksville Young Professionals visit their website at www.clarksvilleyps.com or call 800-530-2847.