Wilford Clyde: president Clyde Companies.

• Position: Influential Leaders

It comes as no surprise that Wilford Clyde is keeping pretty busy these days. As the president of Clyde Companies, Inc. (made up of WW Clyde, Geneva Rock, Sunroc, and Beehive Insurance), the mayor of Springville, and the father of four daughters, you might expect to find him hyperventilating, but this Utah native takes it all in stride. A former high school quarterback, Wilford still exhibits that same grit and determination to win as a team. His impact in the state flows from his values and commitment to be true to his roots.

What's the most important thing you've ever done?

The most important thing I've done in all my life was to marry the person that I married. Looking back it was the most critical decision I've made in life. In business, the most important thing I've done was my decision to work for the family business right out of school. I studied accounting at Brigham Young University and I ended up going to work at Geneva Rock. Six years later I was made a general manager. The rest is history.

How did you meet your wife?

Natalie and I were students together at BYU when we met and fell in love. We lived at the same apartment complex near campus--Alta apartments. We have four daughters and six wonderful grandkids.

How have you been so successful in business?

I have learned to develop strong interpersonal skills, which have helped me to interact well with all sorts of people. I enjoy seeing things from another point of view. It's a thrill to identify their strengths and then get them into the right positions to leverage their contribution for the good of the organization.

What would you say are your personal principles?

There is no substitute for honesty. The first thing I must know about a person is whether or not I can trust the person. If you can't trust a person, nothing else matters. Trust is a critical element of your character. If you say you're going to do something, do it. I try to live by that principle. Also, I firmly believe in hard work and dedication. I've tried to practice these principles ever since I started my first job when I was 13 years old.

Tell me about your leadership style.

I have always believed in teamwork and cooperation. Instead of being dictatorial, I'm more of a consensus builder. I like to put forth an idea and work out the details so that at the end the entire group has gotten into alignment. I like to get involved in the organizational structure, but then 1 like to let the people perform and thrive in...