What do you do if your Vendor Relations team lacks leadership skills?

1 Assess your team's strengths and weaknesses

The first step to address the leadership gap in your vendor relations team is to assess your team's strengths and weaknesses. You can use various tools and methods, such as feedback surveys, performance reviews, self-assessments, or 360-degree evaluations, to gather data and insights on your team's skills, competencies, and behaviors. You should also consider the expectations and requirements of your vendors, and how well your team meets them. By identifying the areas where your team excels and where it needs improvement, you can tailor your action plan accordingly.

2 Provide training and coaching

The next step is to provide training and coaching to your team members, especially those who have leadership potential or responsibilities. You can enroll them in online or offline courses, workshops, webinars, or seminars that cover topics such as communication, negotiation, conflict resolution, project management, or vendor management. You can also assign them mentors, either from within or outside your organization, who can guide them, share best practices, and offer feedback and support. Additionally, you can create opportunities for your team to practice and apply their learning, such as by leading meetings, presentations, or projects with vendors.

3 Set clear goals and expectations

Another important step is to set clear goals and expectations for your team and your vendors. You should communicate your vision, mission, values, and objectives to your team, and align them with your vendor's goals and expectations. You should also define the roles and responsibilities of each team member, and the scope and deliverables of each vendor project. Moreover, you should establish the standards and criteria for measuring and evaluating your team's and your vendor's performance, and the rewards and consequences for meeting or failing them.

4 Foster a culture of collaboration and feedback

A key aspect of leadership in vendor relations is fostering a culture of collaboration and feedback among your team and your vendors. You should encourage your team to work as a unit, share information, support each other, and solve problems together. You should also promote a positive and respectful relationship with your vendors, based on mutual trust, understanding, and appreciation. Furthermore, you should solicit and provide regular and constructive feedback to your team and your vendors, and use it to improve your processes, practices, and outcomes.

5 Lead by example

The final step is to lead by example. You should model the behaviors and attitudes that you expect from your team and your vendors, such as honesty, integrity, professionalism, accountability, and excellence. You should also demonstrate your commitment, enthusiasm, and passion for your work, and show appreciation and recognition for your team's and your vendor's efforts and achievements. By leading by example, you can inspire and motivate your team and your vendors, and create a positive and productive vendor relations environment.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?