A trend we have seen from daily interaction within the procurement and supply management profession (P&SM) is professionals taking up the first available job rather than carefully considering their career opportunities. The result for the employer is lower levels of engagement, loss of productivity and poor staff retention. The effect for the individual is a lack of depth in skills, knowledge and competencies, affecting career longevity and “work-life-balance”.
Career vitality
Career vitality is the continuous discipline of health and wellness; the relevance and significance of your career. Career vitality is defined by mental vigour and physical strength; capacity for continuation of meaningful and purposeful existence; the power to grow, measured by energy; a vital force. Synchronization of the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional bodies results in energy and excellence in abundance.
Career Vitals P&SM = E 2
The four body vitals, temperature, respiratory rate, blood pressure and heart rate assessed for medical health can be symbolically applied to career, the mind, lungs, blood vessels and the heart. The first vital is the physical body, our mechanism to interact with the outer world, using our skills and actioning our goals. It is important not just to have motion but progress in your career. Fundamental to physical health is regular exercise of your skills to enhance them, creatively managing stress and, maintaining optimum energy levels.
Deepak Chopra has an adapted process for Smart goals:
- Stretch for more than you can reach
- Make everything measurable
- Agreements from your team and supporters
- Record your progress
- Time limits
The second vital is the spiritual body; it is life purpose, vision and values. Vitalism, states that the phenomena of life is not purely mechanical but, in part self-determining, containing the élan vital or vital spark/force or chi. This internal guiding system which calibrates our internal alignment, leads you back to your higher purpose and what you value. Deepak Chopra also said,
“a job is how you earn a living, a career is how you make your mark, a calling is how you acknowledge a higher vision”.
When you do what you are purposed to do, you will love what you do, you will be energised. Spiritual maturity is non-perfection, kindness and patience, questioning to seek your own truth, flexibility and embracing opposites. Life purpose is to live not to just exist.
The third vital is the mind, the mental body. It is the home of our knowledge, education, thoughts, beliefs, and motivations. A challenge to the norm posed by John Kehoe in his book Mind Power is that knowledge is not power, applied knowledge is power. It is through application of learnings that we create a new reality and shape our destiny.
The fourth vital is the emotional body, or energy in motion: your individual personality, competencies, interests and character.
“good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Talents are a gift. Good character, by contrast, we have to build piece by piece—by thought, choice, courage and determination” John Luther
Vitality for a P&SM career
Five common vitals traits of P&SM professionals identified as “talent”:
- Self- leadership
- Leading through one’s communication
- Motivation
- Integrity
- Smart goals and decision making.
Continuous knowledge development, multidisciplinary degrees and post-graduate qualifications have become the norm in procurement and supply management. A differentiator is individuals who supplement that foundation with regular and relevant courses from established institutions like Commerce Edge and membership and involvement with professional bodies like CIPS.
Depth, a proven track record with tangible business results of cost saving and efficiency improvement and deep-seated competencies are the key to career growth. The first 12-18 months in a role builds one’s knowledge and skills. Months 18-36 develop one’s competencies and character.
Be a change agent, the only constant in business is change. During challenges, talent adapts, solves problems, takes risk, innovates and initiates, manages stress, facilitates and influences change.
Think about the triple P’s, Purpose, Perseverance and Passion.
“Success is no longer about promotion; it’s about mastery” – M. Hammer.
Career and personal mastery happens when all the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional aspects that makes up one’s wheel of life is synchronized. The result: excellence.
“We are what we do repeatedly. Excellence, then is not an act but a habit” – Aristotle
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