EP60: The Procurement Career Crossroads No One Prepares You For - Procurement Pivots® | Lyssna här

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Procurement careers, career crossroads, career clarity, procurement leadership, career change and senior procurement job search can all collide at a point that many successful procurement leaders simply aren't expecting.

On paper, everything might look good.

You've built a successful procurement career. You're operating at leadership level. You're in a good organisation, perhaps with a team you enjoy working with.

But something doesn't feel quite right anymore.

You know you're ready for something different, or perhaps something more, but you're not entirely sure what that looks like yet. And when there isn't an obvious reason to leave, that uncertainty can be surprisingly difficult to navigate.

In this episode of Procurement Pivots, Donna Bowden and Laura Sellers explore the procurement career crossroads that no one really prepares you for and how to navigate it with greater clarity, confidence and intention.

We discuss:

Why career crossroads can appear even when everything looks good on paper
How changes in your life, priorities and values can change what you need from your career
The danger of drifting through a successful career without consciously choosing where you're heading
The early signs that something in your career may no longer be serving you
Why career clarity doesn't start with your CV, job boards or the external market
How understanding your strengths, values and what energises you can help uncover the right direction
Why there's an important difference between responding to a crossroads and reacting to one
How rushing into applications before you're clear can actually knock your confidence further
Why the right answer isn't necessarily leaving your organisation, or even your current role
How clarity helps you become more selective about what you say yes and no to
Why people buy into your certainty, particularly at procurement leadership level
The importance of understanding the why behind the what when deciding what comes next

Because being at a career crossroads doesn't necessarily mean you need to leave.

It might mean you need to pause long enough to understand what's changed, what matters to you now and what you really want your next chapter to look like.

Clarity gives you back choice. And choice allows you to move forward intentionally.

Get in Touch

If this episode resonated, we'd love to hear your thoughts.

If you'd like to explore working with Procurement Pivots, or with either of us individually, you can contact us at:

hello@procurementpivots.com

At a crossroads in your own procurement career?

If you're a senior procurement leader in the UK and would like to explore how Donna could support you to get clear on what comes next and position yourself to make it happen, you can book a confidential Career Momentum Call here:

https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-call

About Procurement Pivots

We are passionate about supporting the people behind procurement success.

Between us, we bring over 25 years of experience supporting procurement leaders in a variety of different ways, combining our diverse coaching expertise to bring to life the conversations from the coaching room that deserve a spotlight in today's challenging and ever-changing procurement landscape.

We're proud to have built strong reputations as trusted coaches in the procurement space, supporting individuals and teams to navigate complexity, strengthen their leadership and progress with greater clarity and confidence.

From positioning, visibility and career progression, through to leadership development, influence and navigating change, we've supported procurement professionals across every stage of their journey.

Because success in procurement isn't just about what you deliver. It's about how you show up, how you're perceived and how you create opportunities.

About Donna Bowden

Donna Bowden is a Procurement Career Coach and Founder of Narrate Your Career, supporting senior procurement professionals to build clarity, confidence and visibility in their careers.

With over 20 years' experience in procurement leadership hiring, she brings deep insight into what hiring managers are really looking for and how to position yourself effectively to identify, create and secure the right opportunities in your procurement career.

If this episode resonates and you're a procurement leader in the UK who is serious about making a considered and intentional next move, you're very welcome to explore working with Donna here:

https://www.narrateyourcareer.com/book-a-call

About Laura Sellers

Laura Sellers is an Executive and Leadership Coach, specialising in coaching for procurement professionals and teams. Drawing on her background in procurement and procurement development, she supports individuals and organisations to develop leadership capability, strengthen self-awareness and build coaching skills that elevate their impact, influence and performance.

Laura also leads an ILM-accredited coaching centre, helping procurement professionals and organisations develop practical coaching capability and gain recognised ILM coaching qualifications that strengthen leadership and create lasting impact across their teams.

Interested in developing your own coaching skills? Laura's next ILM coaching qualification cohort starts in September.