How to Succeed as an Emerging Leader in Manufacturing: Insights from Kennedy Tank

Paul Bolin’s 27-year career as the Vice President of Sales at Kennedy Tank and Manufacturing shared in an interview with Dan Yoder, Vice President of Operations and Purchasing at Kennedy Tank and Manufacturing insights and lessons on leadership, teamwork, and perseverance. Keep reading to know the 7 takeaways from Paul to the next generation of leaders.

Build a Strong Team and Prioritize Loyalty

People are at the heart of any successful career. Reflecting on his journey at Kennedy Tank, Paul believes that loyalty and teamwork were key to overcoming challenges and achieving growth.

Takeaway: As an emerging leader, focus on building a team where trust, loyalty, and collaboration are at the core. When people feel valued, they contribute more, helping the whole team to succeed.

Understand Your Team and Lead by Supporting Them

When Paul first joined Kennedy Tank, one of his first priorities was to understand the personalities, strengths, and weaknesses of his team members. Understanding the unique qualities of each person helps you lead effectively by offering the right kind of support to foster success.

Takeaway: Effective leadership involves knowing your team deeply and give them the tools they need to thrive.

Learn from Failures

Challenges and even failures are inevitable in one’s career. From missed sales to delayed deliveries, Paul learned to view setbacks as opportunities for improvement. He emphasizes the importance of postmortems—analyzing what went wrong and finding lessons in every situation.

Takeaway: Failure is part of the journey. Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, take the time to understand why it happened. Use that knowledge to make smarter decisions in the future.

Be Transparent with Your Customers

Transparency is the key to good communication. One of Paul’s most important lessons is that honesty and clear communication are essential, especially when things don’t go as planned. Whether it’s a delay in delivery or rising material costs, customers appreciate transparency, even if it means delivering bad news. He recalls instances where over-communicating during the pandemic helped maintain strong customer relationships, even when material shortages were out of their control.

Takeaway: When facing challenges, always communicate openly and honestly with your customers. It may not always be easy, but it builds trust and allows everyone to make informed decisions.

Keep the Bigger Picture in Mind

Early in his career, Paul admits that he sometimes became too focused on the minutiae, managing data and reports as if it were the key to success. Over time, he realized that stepping back and looking at the larger picture allowed him to make more strategic, effective decisions.

Takeaway: While details matter, don’t let them distract you from the broader strategic goals. Take a step back regularly to assess the big picture and ensure your decisions align with long-term success.

Know Your Product, Your Customer, and Your Industry

Paul believes that one of the core elements of success is understanding your product and how it meets the needs of your customers. He encourages emerging leaders to invest time in understanding not only their own solutions but also the manufacturing industry and the challenges their customers face.

Takeaway: Deep knowledge of your product, your customer, and the industry is essential. This knowledge allows you to anticipate challenges and respond to opportunities effectively.

Value Your Employees: Listen and Appreciate Their Input

One of the most powerful pieces of advice Paul offers is to listen to your employees and ensure they feel valued. Great companies are built by individuals who are motivated by a sense of purpose and recognition.

Takeaway: As a leader, make it a priority to listen to your employees and show appreciation for their contributions. When people feel respected and heard, they are more likely to go above and beyond in their work.

Conclusion

Paul Bolin’s career is a testament to the power of persistence, strong leadership, and a commitment to learning. His advice to emerging leaders—whether they are in sales, operations, or management—is simple yet profound: Build strong teams, prioritize clear communication, and always keep the big picture in mind.

As the next generation steps into leadership roles, the lessons Paul has shared will continue to resonate, helping to shape successful careers and thriving businesses for years to come.