Skills of Great Sourcing Professionals
In the sprit of the Thanksgiving holiday in the US, I thought I would share the nice things leaders have told me about their staff.
What are the skills that define great sourcing professionals?
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving – Understanding the importance of the product or service to the overall success of the organization is essential. This guides the time they can spend on each project.
Calm in a Crisis – Things will go wrong. The ability to think clearly and deliver under pressure gives stakeholders and business owners confidence that you will find a solution.
Understanding Deadlines – Some things are not negotiable and knowing which ones is valuable.
Resourceful – Anyone who has had a supplier suddenly go out of business expects the best but plans for the worst.
Understanding Your Audience – Not all stakeholders and business owners are created equal. Delivering the right information and timely updates help them do their job better. This makes you a valued resource.
Team Player – Priorities shift and the team player will adjust especially when someone else makes a mistake or misses a deadline.
Curious – Learning the key elements of the products or services you are buying takes drive and dedication.
Courageous – Being unafraid to ask anyone from the CEO to the maintenance staff to clarify their needs takes courage. This can be challenging when it is a rush purchase or it is clear that it hasn’t been thought out or a key detail is missing.
Flexible – The ability to work well with demanding or laid-back people is a wonderful skill that can be overlooked. You can learn something from everyone if you pay attention.
Procurement professionals often feel overwhelmed by the amount they are expected to do.
Maybe today would be a great day to say thanks to your team and consider asking if there is anything you can do to help them. They will appreciate it.
Ask better questions, make changes and 2020 will be your best year ever.
Action Step: If you are uncertain where to start the process of change, a procurement professional like myself can provide guidance and expertise to help your organization achieve the results you want.
If you want to go explore this topic in greater detail, please contact me. I invite you to request 30-minute discovery conversation. In my experience the next step will be apparent at the end of the call. I never assume that what I have to offer will be right for everyone, so don’t expect a sales pitch. You can reach me at 973-936-9672.
If you would like to know more ways to reduce costs without changing the way you do business, simply give me a call or send me an email with your contact information and the best time to reach you.
You Won’t Drift to Success©
Commit to taking the next step.
Until Next Time, I Wish You Great Success in Your Business and in Your Life
Mike Jeffries