MANISTEE, MICH. - Recently, I gave a presentation as part of 'Talks, Tunes, and Tours' at the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, where I discussed what chambers of commerce are. It was a great opportunity for the public to learn the foundations of our work and to meet the faces behind the Chamber. But do you know what else it hammered in? It takes a team to accomplish most things.

I think of a chamber of commerce as a sum of its parts: all of the businesses, non-profits, and individuals that invest within it, the staff, board members, ambassadors, volunteers, and additional partners that directly work with the chamber. It's not one person doing all the work: it takes countless conversations amongst countless individuals. I think there's something to be said about that.

"It takes a team." "There's no 'I' in team." "Teamwork makes the dream work." Who hasn't heard an expression like that at some point? Humans are inherently social creatures. One 2019 research study from Cornell and Bilkent University describes our sociability as a "defining feature" for us. It's not about extroversion or introversion, but the value in forming meaningful connections with others. The point is: humans were made to rely on one another.

Maybe you've heard different sources with varying levels of merit talk about the idea of a 'loneliness epidemic' having impacted parts of our world in recent years. Maybe you have heard that this is especially applicable for younger generations like Gen-Z or for men. From a 2023 advisory report by the Surgeon General of the United States, we can observe that social connections have been on the decline for decades now, due to several factors. Elements such as housing, job opportunities, civic engagement, public policies, and even the social values passed down in a community all shape social connections in different ways. The same report also finds that lacking social connection is comparable to smoking as many as 15 cigarettes every single day.

I bring this up because I have to wonder if several problems we face in our current times could be alleviated if we created more space in our lives to work together as a team. I know it sounds corny, but truly, I ask you: what does it look like for us to live as members of Team Manistee County?

I think the secret is that you should aim to have different teams for different pockets in your life. 

At the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, for example, I am grateful to ALL of the people on my team: to my coworkers, Andrew Stafford (Director of Economic Development) and Nicole Kaminski (Programs Specialist), each for bringing their own strengths and personalities that make the work that much more meaningful and effective; I am also grateful to my boss, Carmen Kott (President & CEO), for the culture that she creates as a leader for the four of us to work as a team. That doesn't count the many others directly working with the Chamber (I'd go past my word count if I tried to list every person's name). Many Chamber programs are team-oriented, whether it's designed for entrepreneurs to make connections or businesses to gain access to resources, or local entities in the community to get things done. The point is, it takes all of us!

Who's on your team outside of work? One easy place I can find those teammates is through theater. I love the performing arts for that. You engage with people of different ages, backgrounds, and workplaces, and devote time to creating something. Your team doesn't have to be a 'club'. Maybe your team is an accountability partner that encourages you to stay physically active, or maybe it's a group of friends that schedules monthly dinners at each other's houses. They say you are who you surround yourself with. Are you part of a team that enables the type of work and experiences YOU want to see? That's up to you to answer.

I would be remiss not to mention that every good team has a coach. Do you have a mentor? Is there someone in your life who YOU could mentor? Who are the people in your life you could learn from, and who are the people in your life that you could pass along your knowledge to? Don't wait for the other person to reach out: be the one to initiate that relationship. Whether it's in your professional journey or your personal life, I bet there's someone who could teach you a thing or two… and someone else who could learn a thing or two from you!

How do you describe the people who make up your team? I would be curious to know. In any case, don't forget the importance of having a team: in your community, your job, and your life. One more thing… if you are ever curious to learn how your local chamber of commerce can be on your team, we would love to chat!

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Blade Gates is the Marketing & Communications Specialist at the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit 501 C (6) organization, whose mission is to build a dynamic and sustainable organization to serve the Business, Workforce, and Economic Development needs of all in Manistee County. You can contact the Chamber at 231-723-2575 or communications@manisteechamber.com.