How to Build the Ultimate Supply Chain Team

We’ve all heard the old cliche: teamwork makes the dream work. And yet, there’s a reason this trite phrase gets thrown around so often — it’s true! The power of a cohesive, collaborative team can’t be overstated. When like-minded individuals harness their collective energy to accomplish a shared mission, it’s nothing short of magical. In the field of supply chain management, the right team makes all the difference.

It’s only logical. Supply chains are essentially a series of shifting, ever-changing parts that, ideally, operate in tandem like a well-oiled machine. Each component impacts the next. It’s the people behind the machine that keeps it running smoothly. For supply chain managers who embrace Demand Driven methodology, selecting the right team members and fostering their growth is of critical importance.

What factors separate an ordinary supply chain management team from an extraordinary one? It’s all about attracting the right talent, leading by example, and offering abundant opportunities to learn and strengthen team bonds, for example through team-building workshops like DDBrix. Patrick Rigoni has worked with an extensive range of organizations over the course of his career as a Demand Driven expert and supply chain management consultant. He’s had the opportunity to observe patterns and habits, and he’s gathered significant insights along the way.

While every team is different, some qualities rise to the surface time and again. These shared traits and behaviors of high achieving teams deserve more than our admiration. It’s worth taking notes and learning from them. You’ll see the difference not just in employee morale, but in your company’s bottom line.

• Leaders Who Communicate 

Even among a team of peers, clearly designated leaders who drive the agenda and keep everyone on track are mandatory. Behind every superstar supply chain management team is a leader (or leaders) who brings goals into focus. 

Another non-negotiable: great leaders are clear communicators. They bring clear objectives to the table. They make sure everyone on the team understands both challenges and desired outcomes. Ambiguity simply isn’t part of the equation. 

Exemplar supply chain management teams often espouse a coaching model, which fosters mentorship and talent development across the organization. Leaders direct teams towards company objectives, but they also dedicate time to teaching and learning from one another.

• Diverse Backgrounds

When searching for talent, it’s good practice to seek out candidates with non-traditional backgrounds and unusual career paths. It’s precisely these individuals who have the most to offer in terms of novel insight and perspective on the supply chain. Resilience, flexible thinking, and problem-solving aptitude are just a few of the traits that shine through when key roles on the team are filled by eclectic individuals. Team members who have taken the road less traveled in the past are also more likely to be comfortable with risk and stepping outside of their comfort zone.

• Curiosity & Empathy Over Ego

The best supply chain management teams prize curiosity and empathy above all else. It’s woven into the company culture. Asking questions is expected and encouraged. Team members are tenacious; they care deeply about the work they do and know how to buckle down and achieve outcomes.

At the same time, this grit doesn’t translate into ego. Successful teams put aside individual pursuits to focus on the collective good. They celebrate when team goals are achieved. Everyone’s in this together. Empathy – for each other and for the customer – is at the heart of every decision. Workshops like DDBrix, which are designed to foster these traits and hone supply chain management skills, are an excellent choice for organizations looking to take their team spirit to the next level 

• Knowledge of Individual & Group Dynamics

Data is our friend. It’s true of Demand Driven supply chain management, and it’s true when assembling an all-star team. That’s why some organizations gather information on team members’ personality traits through formal assessments like the Myers-Briggs and DISC Behavior Assessment.

Knowledge about employee personality traits makes it possible to construct teams that play off of one another’s strengths and overcome individual weaknesses. It’s one step closer to achieving a balanced dynamic across the organization.

• Three Key Players

Supply chain teams are composed of dozens, if not hundreds of integral team members. But every team, regardless of its size, needs these three types of people in the mix: A big-picture thinker, a data analysis expert, and a relationship builder. Sometimes team members wear more than one of these hats. Often teams are composed of multiple individuals with these invaluable skill sets. Make sure your team has at least one person who fits squarely in each category.

• Team-Building Activities

Team-building isn’t a sport played from the sidelines. It’s an all-hands-on-deck operation. Learning and growing as a team should be experiential, even multi-sensory. That’s why the best supply chain teams make a point of registering for workshops like DDBrix. Bringing together multiple divisions of an organization to sharpen skills and have fun breaks down silos like nothing else. 

Feeling inspired to build your supply chain team better? Patrick Rigoni’s workshops are a perfect starting point. DDBrix sessions are designed to bring out the best in supply chain teams while teaching Demand Driven methodology. 

Contact Patrick Rigoni today to register your team for a high-impact DDBRIX WORKSHOP!

Download the DDBRIX WORKSHOP Brochure from Patrick Rigoni and check out the latest packs that fit your team and your company!