I can feel the frustration

• I can feel the frustration.
• I can feel me digging in my heels.
• I can me whispering “over my dead body”.
• I can sense the dogged resistance to them getting their own way.
• I will not give up.
• They will not win.

I wonder if this ever how procurement stakeholders feel about us?

I wonder if this is ever how suppliers feel about us?

The content & details of the non work situation driving this behaviour in me is immaterial – even if I would love to gossip, moan & justify why I’m right & they’re wrong.

That’s going to get me nowhere.

If I step back, I can certainly see the behaviours that got us here:

• Changes imposed on another party with no consultation.
• An objection procedure that relies on emails/letters & no human contact.
• Facts & data ignored if it supports a different outcome or amended outcome.
• Ignoring other people's opinions because we've labeled them as NIMBYs 
• Key facts & data misrepresented or omitted at the final presentation.
• Only one party in attendance when approving the decision.

And

• Emails written when angry.
• Emails that stray from the facts & data.
• Emails that push the other party to defending their position.
• Not pushing hard enough for a face to face meeting.
• Not talking to another human being.

Which of the above behaviours may you need to step back from today?

There is another way, and among other things it involves: 

• Consultation 
• Communication 
• Compassion.

Join me for the 5 day Procurement Mindset Challenge on 9th September where alternate mindsets to the ones that led to the mutual frustration and impasse above will be explored.