Tips for supply chain leaders: Be a playmaker

You have adopted an innovative mindset and are thinking outside of the box about supply chain management– what’s next? Execute.

Continuous improvements and innovation are essential for hospitals to survive in today’s healthcare industry, but they will not become long-lasting without the right leadership. Hospitals need strong, consistent leaders across all departments to ensure those improvements and innovations become a part of the mold. Leaders need to serve as playmakers; they must think boldly and expansively about the problems facing hospitals. Although these individuals may be hard to find, they are an essential component for effective supply chain management. They create momentum and inspire confidence.

As playmakers, supply chain leaders must be able to forecast market changes and react quickly. Doing so creates opportunities for the hospital system to continue to evolve and add the best value. This means thinking 10 to 20 years ahead and adapting processes and workflow accordingly.1 Whether your organization is the one leading the change, or you have enough visibility to anticipate changes, you must be able to look ahead and react quickly. This is even more critical within such a dynamic supply chain environment, where new trends like e-commerce and new customer-supplier relationships are becoming the norm.2 A playmaker doesn’t admire opportunities or issues – they act decisively on them. It’s easy to roll with the tide, but a supply chain playmaker possesses a fearless passion for changing the trajectory of the business and for making a difference.

The key to being a successful playmaker, though, hinges on effective collaboration. ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go as a team.’ This is an old proverb that’s very much relevant for today’s healthcare industry. It’s easy to focus solely on a to-do list and to make decisions independently of others in and outside of the organization. But the responsibilities of the supply chain are expanding, and it’s critical for leaders to resist a siloed approach and, instead, commit to collaborating across the extended supply chain with a common goal in mind: improving patient outcomes. Supply chain leaders should encourage collaboration among key partners who are experts on their unique value offerings and can align on purpose and goals. This paves the way for new strategies to emerge and ensures that the organization continues to evolve.3

At the end of the day, playmakers make things happen. Supply chain leaders must demonstrate an appetite for change and be ready to turn ideas into actions.

 

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1 Russell Reynolds Associates. (2011) “Supply Chain Leaders of the Future”
2 NC State University, Poole College of Mgmt. (11/02) “Skills for the New Era of Supply Chain Management - A Look to the Future”
3 Russell Reynolds Associates. (2011) “Supply Chain Leaders of the Future”

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