In today’s dynamic and rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, procurement leaders are facing mounting pressures to deliver better value, improve efficiency, and streamline operations while working within tight budget constraints.

As a result, we are increasingly expected to accomplish more with less, and capability development has emerged as a central component in elevating our procurement performance.To achieve these goals, procurement leaders must invest in the growth and development of our teams, equipping them with the right tools, processes, and skill sets needed to navigate the unique challenge sand opportunities of healthcare procurement.

By prioritising capability uplift, our procurement professionals can be better positioned to make strategic decisions, collaborate effectively with suppliers, and contribute to the overall success of our organisations.In this article, I will explore the critical role of capability uplift in procurement, specifically within the health industry. Here are my Top 10 Tips to empower our procurement teams in achieving their objectives.

1. Leverage a competence framework
By using a structured set of knowledge, skills and attributes, what excellence looks like is defined.Establish the baseline and measure results. Set a vision for your procurement and the team. Align team development to the goal; in this way, I plan to gain additional buy-in from individuals.

2. Know the team’s strengths and development areas
This will enable the targeting of investment in the right places. Equally important is understanding priority areas – there is no point investing in a gap it’s not important! Or an individual for who procurement is not the chosen career path. This will also help hire people to fill gaps.

By focusing on capability uplift, we can enhance our team’s performance, enabling us to achieve more with less.

3. Identify champions on specific topics
By allowing individuals to coach on their area of strength, the team develops new capabilities and understanding, and also reaffirm and stretch existing skills. It is different to teach than to know. (Pro tip –don’t always use the more senior people to act as the champions).

‍4. Focus on informal learning,coaching and interactive workshops
The 70:20:10 methodology aligns with the Benetas approach, where 70% of the learning is on the job,20% through mentoring and coaching and only 10% through formal channels. Even following a face-to-face training session, I would look to embed the learning on the job. There are some key aspects to ensure informal programs are effective – protect the time for these workshops, set clear objectives and know what topics should be covered and measure the outcomes.

5. Don’t just focus on development areas!
There is a lot to be gained by strengthening a strength. Some people will never be good at certain things – so play to their strengths. This has the additional benefit of building confidence (we all like doing what we’re good at).

6. Promote networking opportunities
The team can learn a lot from other organisations, stakeholders, suppliers and networking events. There are many inexpensive networking opportunities available.

By prioritising capability uplift, our procurement professionals can be better positioned to make strategic decisions, collaborate effectively with suppliers, and contribute to the overall success of our organisations.

7. Encourage individuals to build their own development plan
This development plan should link to their career goals. The manager/organisation will still need to guide through budget constraints and practicality, but empowering individuals to own their development means they are invested in.

8. Encourage team members to seek mentors and experience outside of procurement
By expanding the team’s horizons, the function and the organisation will gain the commercial benefits long term.

9. Invest in tailored training programs
Participants learn more when they can relate to the training – using case studies and activities that can be implemented back at their desks. E-Learning is a great way to embed the training and can be used as a refresher.

10. Have a group development plan
This should link your competency framework to your skills analysis to the team and organisational goals. By focusing on capability uplift, we can enhance our team’s performance, enabling us to achieve more with less. The Top 10 tips I’ve outlined provide a solid foundation for developing a comprehensive strategy for building our procurement capabilities. As we prioritise capability uplift and implement these tips, we empower our teams to unlock greater value,drive innovation, and enhance overall procurement performance in the healthcare sector.

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