EP 22: OBSTACLES in Procurement: The Mix of Internal and External Challenges Holding You Back

EP 22: OBSTACLES in Procurement Careers: The Mix of Internal and External Challenges Holding You Back

What do you do when you feel stuck in your procurement career and cannot quite work out why?

In this episode, we explore the wide range of obstacles that hold procurement professionals back, from the organisational challenges you face, to the people dynamics you navigate, to the internal blockers that quietly influence your confidence, motivation and momentum.
Obstacles show up in many forms. Restructures can change your path overnight. Difficult stakeholders can drain your energy. Market conditions can make progress feel harder. Internal narratives can cause you to second guess your next move. We break down the different types of challenges our clients bring to coaching and share how to recognise what is really at play so you can regain clarity and control.

We cover:
• The three main categories of obstacles in procurement careers
• How internal blockers like fear, overthinking and self doubt silently hold you back
• How organisational change, restructures and shifting priorities impact your confidence
• What to do when tricky stakeholders and people dynamics derail your progress
• Why the job market feels tougher and how to adjust your strategy
• The importance of talking things through rather than internalising everything
• How to separate the problem from the emotion so you can move forward
• Practical ways to identify what is really going on and take the first step out of feeling stuck
We also discuss the role of coaching in helping you see patterns you cannot always spot yourself, and why having the right people around you, whether coaches, colleagues or personal supporters, makes such a difference when navigating challenging times.

Thanks for joining. We are so glad you are here.

👥 Hosted by:
Donna Bowden | Procurement Career Coach, Narrate Your Career
Laura Sellers | Executive and Leadership Coach, Coaching for Procurement
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