by Dustin Lanier, CPPO
Chief Procurement Officers can be afraid to release the reigns out of fear that their expectations won’t be upheld. For this reason, the following points allow Agents and Buyers to work up to career-defining opportunities while exercising their leadership abilities in the public procurement arena. These practices allow for individuals to evolve into leaders - who can pick up those reigns in the future.
𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 – Budding leaders will naturally gravitate toward a boss who provides reasonable opportunities to get into the minutiae of the procurement strategy work. Invite them to the next citywide strategic planning meeting as a listening ear. Share and discuss the timeline for the upcoming budget season and give them a section to oversee. Illuminate them about departmental goals. Allow junior buyers to tag-team with senior buyers on larger strategic procurements.
𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 – Without opportunities to truly succeed – or fail – a future leader will not have a chance to demonstrate their potential. Oftentimes managers are afraid to release the reigns out of fear that their expectations won’t be upheld. For this reason, shadowing and collaboration allow team members to work up to career-defining opportunities to exercise their leadership abilities in the public procurement arena.
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – Team members who go “above and beyond” and consistently demonstrate a capacity for leadership should be recognized. Find upscaling opportunities, and if a scale upgrade isn’t budget-feasible, a personal lunch treat can make someone’s day!
𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – One way to make certain that future leaders are up to par with professional development benchmarks is to invest in their training and education. Earning certifications allows for paced growth in line with industry standards and extends the community past the doors of the organization, making them more likely to stay in the profession.
