Five key soft skills that every CPO needs

Chief procurement officers should be many things: strategic, decisive, purposeful and adaptive, but also communicative. 

Latest findings from the CIPS Procurement & Supply Salary Guide 2024, produced in partnership with Hays, show procurement and supply leaders must be as good at interacting with people as they are at the technical skills of procurement itself. Those leading the profession also need a mastery of digital technology, according to our latest guide. 

With AI set to eliminate certain jobs and force widescale upskilling, CPOs will need to work on their soft skills to support their teams to embrace this shift. Whether you’re currently a CPO, or looking to lead the profession in future, here are five key soft skills to focus on. 

Communication  

Communication is an essential skill for CPOs. As a CPO, you need to communicate effectively at all levels, including with your team, stakeholders and suppliers. CPOs should be able to articulate their vision to their procurement and supply team, communicate key information to stakeholders and build robust relationships with suppliers. “It all starts with your confidence and belief in yourself and the function,” says Amanda Davies, chief R&D, procurement and sustainability officer at Mars Wrigley in a CIPS Futures podcast. “You can walk into the boardroom in two ways: seeking permission to drive change, or demonstrating confidence that you know how to drive change.”  

Collaboration  

Collaborative work environments that promote teamwork and communication are essential for creating high-performing teams. As a CPO, you have a responsibility to build a work environment that nurtures teamwork, collaboration and open communication. As Emma Scott MCIPS, group head of content strategy at CIPS, says: “The need for collaborative leadership and change agents to navigate the constant uncertainty we are operating in has never been so critical. Leaders who establish strong, meaningful relationships, and encourage their teams too, are more likely to make impact and drive change at pace.”  

Integrity and trust  

Integrity and trust go hand in hand. For the modern CPO, having integrity and trust means having trusted relationships with your suppliers, stakeholders and team, along with trusted procurement processes that are ethical and transparent. “Trust is core for procurement, both from a compliance perspective and in terms of your engagement with team members and stakeholders,” says Juliet Sotnick, a former CPO, executive coach and CIPS global board trustee. “They need to know who you are, what you bring to the table and how you operate.” 

For more insights on developing your career, including the latest trends in talent recruitment and retention, read the CIPS Procurement & Supply Salary Guide 2024.