It is but normal for any entrepreneur to feel apprehension and doubt in taking bigger steps to gain more from their investments. After all, no business theory can ever definitely foretell the success of a venture. Everything becomes a wager and every step may as well fall down to the businessmen’s courage to take risks.
The same thing would apply in dealing with Supply Chain and Procurement.
True enough, there had been a lot of inspiring success stories of those who are engaged in procurement after becoming CEO’s of big, infamous organizations. But very few have braved the uncertain entrepreneurship move.
It is, nonetheless, certain that even the small scale businessmen can well follow the steps of Tim Cook of Apple and other successful personalities that have conquered the challenges of maximizing the value of Supply Chain and Procurement.
The following steps can get you there:
1. Preparing yourself with self-confidence
Leaders of Supply Chain and Procurement are known to have the right skills and abilities compared to other role players as a result of being engaged into an end-to-end organizational view. Having these characteristics can serve as your asset.
In order to be a good leader, it is a must to develop belief in yourself and confidence when taking another step farther. Be sure that you have gotten yourself prepared for the role of being a COO. This would help in the quest to showcase strategic impacts to the Board table and communicate the laid out plans with clarity and conviction.
2. Developing the ability to influence
Like all the best leaders known in the field, one should surpass the obstacles faced in getting the most out of Supply Chain and Procurement by being able to devise strategies in cost savings and maintaining a good inflow of profits. There can be no factor more helpful in reaching these goals than the capability of the entrepreneur to coax the employees and influence them positively.
When one has the credibility to lead, they can achieve the following within a business organization:
- Lead the employees towards a wider vision of Supply Chain or Procurement and engage them into getting the best potential results
- Standing firm with passion, conviction and persistence by every move made and plans lay out. Convincing the workforce of your abilities, however, may take time. Some suggest that a period of 6-12 months is required for the demonstration of successive wins.
3. Career Opportunities Expansion
In one of the breakfast meetings attended by young, hopeful entrepreneurs through Archer Mathieson, the speakers have discussed the integrated brain approach related to this particular step. Leaders, as explained, should be wary of the value for Supply Chain and Procurement especially when they aim to elevate their skills and gain more career opportunities.
This approach involves the application of ‘multi-brain’ perspective. Meaning, leaders should have an access to the three levels of intelligence that would include:
1. The Thinking brain
2. The Heart Brain
3. Indefinite Brain
It is through these three levels of thinking that a leader can engage his people into the integration of their thoughts, feeling and intuition needed in achieving better outcomes. The most influential leaders in Supply Chain and Procurement are known to have actively performed these three brains and consider these in planning out their approaches and dealing with current situations.
What about you? Do you consider yourself as a potential procurement leader? Think it through and we hope to see you at the top!
You might also like:
