Yes, NIGP Really Cares About Cultivating Leaders: A Tale from the Inside

Building leadership capabilities is a strategic priority for NIGP, and not just for members. I recently graduated from the Edge Program—a leadership development program for those new to leadership or those who aspire to take on leadership roles. I’m one of a handful of NIGP staff members who have gone through this program. 

To be honest, at first, I felt a little out of place when I participated in Edge. However, I got so much out of attending the program, which my manager encouraged me to participate in to familiarize myself with procurement while strengthening my leadership skills. That is what’s great about the leadership offerings at NIGP because the learning focuses on developing leadership capabilities. By design, the skills and strategies you develop and enhance are transferable. So regardless of your current role, entity, or profession, you will build foundational skills you can take with you anywhere. 

Edge takes a unique approach to building a cohort—a series of virtual sessions culminating in the in-person Leadership Summit where you also get to meet and learn with participants of the Impact and Academy programs. Although I initially felt like an outsider, by the time I met with my cohort in person, I felt like I was connecting with a group of old friends who were ready to share their experiences and be vulnerable in ways that helped us all grow as leaders. 

My Biggest Takeaways 

I have a lot of takeaways from Edge. Here are a couple that stood out to me the most. 

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Analysis 

We did an Emotional Intelligence (EQ) analysis early in the program. I had never done one before, and it helped me figure out my leadership style. This happened to coincide beautifully with the EQ training NIGP was doing with all its staff at the time.  

My role at NIGP requires me to be a bit of connective tissue. So, having a language to explain myself when talking with my manager and colleagues has been quite useful, and it has given me confidence when I approach a new situation or person. Additionally, knowing how to identify their leadership traits and assess how they interact with mine has helped me discover better ways to work together with colleagues. 

Becoming More Assertive 

Overall, Edge helped to be more assertive in the workplace. It was very empowering to learn how to take the skills I already had and apply them strategically to feel more confident asserting myself in different situations, whether meeting with leadership team members or just having a one-on-one with another colleague.  

As mentioned earlier, the in-person Edge learning takes place alongside participants attending the Academy Program—geared for chapter leaders and the Impact Program which is for mid- to senior-level leaders. The participants in all three programs directly interacted throughout Leadership Summit, which allowed me to sit at the table with senior procurement leaders and put into practice everything I had learned. 

Real-World Applications 

Interestingly enough, I participated in Edge while we were trying to launch a new initiative, the NIGP blog (yes, the one you are reading right now!).  

The Edge workbook has many exercises and prompts to help you work through a real-world situation. I used it to create a roadmap for launching this blog, complete with the timeline, dates, and potential roadblocks. So, I guess we can all thank Edge for helping bring the NIGP blog to life. 

Advice for Future Edge Participants 

If you’re considering participating in Edge, my first piece of advice is to do it! Regardless of your current role or situation, you won’t regret becoming a more confident leader. 

Keep an Open Mind  

Once you have committed to Edge, my best advice is to come with an open mind. You may have had previous leadership training, and so some of the lessons (especially in the beginning) might feel repetitive. But be open-minded about what new information you can learn and how you can advance your existing knowledge to be an even more informed and effective leader.  

Prioritize Your Edge Time 

Also, know that Edge has a work component. You’ll need to keep up with the workbook, so make sure you set aside time every week to complete the lessons as they build upon each other.  

Get Ready to Make Some Friends 

I wasn’t sure what to expect from a social aspect, especially since I work for NIGP and am not a procurement practitioner. But I am happy to say that I have made some friends by connecting with people through Edge. We keep in touch over Nsite and reconnected at Forum. I have relationships with people I wouldn’t have met otherwise, and I know the bonds will keep growing stronger. 

When you hear people at NIGP talking about building a culture of leadership, it’s not just a soundbite. I can tell you first-hand that this organization genuinely believes in equipping its members and employees with valuable leadership skills, regardless of their current position or future career aspirations. I encourage you to take part in the many leadership opportunities NIGP has to offer, whether it’s Edge or another program. You won’t regret it!