Relationships Matter

There is an old adage, “You’ll never truly understand someone until you walk a mile in their shoes.” We heard it from our parents and have used it with our children. It is a great message to articulate that you first need to understand another’s situation and life to truly understand them as a person. I think it is also a great adage to remember when approaching relationships in business. 

I have the benefit that many in the purchasing and supply chain industry do not. I was once a supplier to the organization at General Motors that I now manage. I had a chance to experience the good and bad, when it comes to building lasting relationships. That is one reason why I have asked everyone in our organization to remember to think about what the view looks like from the other side of the table. It is why my team and entire organization has made nurturing relationships one of the six top priorities for General Motors Purchasing and Supply Chain. (I’ll talk more about each of these priorities throughout the year.)

One of the ways I ensure my team is nurturing relationships beyond their daily interactions with business partners is to participate in larger networking opportunities, like our supplier business meetings, industry association meetings and our annual Supplier of the Year recognition event.

Last month, my team had the opportunity to host more than 400 automotive suppliers and members of the Original Equipment Supplier Association (OESA) for a town hall and networking session. While we hold these each year, this year was very special to me, as I had the opportunity to host our guests at the historic GM Design Dome. Events like this are a great opportunity for me and my team to continue to network with the broader supply base. If you are an automotive supplier, I encourage you to join organizations like OESA. 

Later this month, I will have the opportunity to recognize the outstanding work and relationship with 118 suppliers in our 25th Annual Supplier of the Year awards ceremony. This is an event that I look forward to every year, as it gives me an opportunity to publicly thank our business partners who have truly gone above and beyond for General Motors.

Events like this also provide for another great chance to continue to foster our relationships. In fact, during my first Supplier of the Year event, I challenged our winners to send me their best ideas. I received ideas from every single supplier and we implemented more than 80 percent, saving us and our partners millions of dollars.

I look forward to sharing more detail about these great business partners early next month. 

Whether you work for a complex global enterprise like the auto industry, or an enterprising small business, relationships matter. I believe the success of a business is rooted in the ability to foster and grow relationships with business partners. 

What do you think? I’d like to hear your thoughts. What do you do to improve relationships with your business partners?

Regards,

Steve Kiefer