Top 5 Insights from First 3 Weeks in Business

It's been three weeks since the "go-live" of Supply Chain Sherpas.  I spent the first week in Santa Monica at a Rich Litvin Coaching Intensive program.  Then flew directly to the IDN Summit in Orlando for an extraordinary week with the healthcare supply chain industry.  This week started with a trip to Atlanta to spend time with John Pritchard of Shared Moving Media before heading to my home office in Colorado for a few much-needed days to catch up on messages and inquiries. 

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1.  Talent is Becoming a Top Priority
At the IDN Summit board dinner, John Kelly asked each attendee to highlight what they are most looking forward to in the healthcare supply chain (or in the world more broadly).  The hottest theme...leaders from suppliers and providers were excited about the interest and focus on talent and leadership development. 


2.  Coaching is Powerful
As a practicing coach, I've often witnessed the wonderful professional breakthroughs of my clients. Over these last three weeks, I've also witnessed a concentration of life-changing personal breakthroughs.  I’m beginning to fully appreciate the cumulative power of our limiting thoughts, beliefs and behaviors.  I will forever cherish the emails and letters I've received these last three weeks.  I’m filled with gratitude for the wonderful coaches supporting my own development too.  
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3.  Our Next Generation of Leaders will Positively Change our World
Next generation leaders (generally from the millennial generation) have been reaching out to me at an unexpectedly high rate.  These extraordinary individuals are wired for meaningful purpose, willing to explore diverse experiences, hopeful, curious, optimistic, eager to learn, collaborative and connected.  They think BIG and are aspirational about what's possible.  I've left every single conversation inspired and I'm committed to helping to prepare our next generation, emerging leaders and motivated incumbent leaders for the healthcare of tomorrow.  


4.  Healthcare Suppliers Feel Discouraged
Suppliers continue to transition from feature-selling to a solutions approach.  They consistently voiced concern about their inability to get meaningful solutions to the point of use.  They are discouraged by the bottleneck that has become the healthcare supply chain.  Frustration is often confused with deep underlying discouragement with the lack of progress.  Our suppliers are very intentionally trying.   
 

5.  Supply Chain Leaders Feel Undervalued
CFO's continue to escalate price savings expectations of supply chain functions.  Supply Chain leaders know there is more potential to deliver all forms of value.  M&A distraction is real.  Resources are constrained.  Expectations continue to increase and are often unrealistic, despite the very real cost issues in healthcare.  It's a formula for feeling undervalued, misunderstood, underappreciated and often overwhelmed.  Will Supply Chain leaders lean into courage and ask for help and support?

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