Why “you” is a super powerful word in procurement strategy and vision
- Lauri Vihonen
- May 13
- 3 min read
Most visions and missions speak from the organization’s or team's perspective: “We want to be…” or “We provide…” But if you truly want to make an impact, it’s far more powerful to speak to the people you serve.
Your customer, user, or stakeholder wants to know what you can do for them. That’s why using the word “you” makes a vision or mission more powerful – it shifts the focus away from the organization and toward the outcome. It builds connection. It brings the message closer.
This blog is an example of that. When I shifted my thinking from describing my own role to focusing on your success as a customer, the message became clear. It’s no longer about what I do – it’s about what you can achieve.
Why is “you” such a powerful word?
When you want to develop your function, the goal isn’t just a better process or a cleaner strategy document. The goal is impact – measurable value that shows up in business performance.
You want to make choices that improve profitability, efficiency, and build competitive advantage. That requires a clear direction – a vision, mission, and values that guide your team or organization forward.
These words can seem abstract. But when crafted from the right perspective, they become practical tools for developing procurement performance.
Here’s an example from my own journey. Maybe it will inspire yours.
When I paused, three words became clear:
For a long time, I knew what I did and why. But it wasn’t until I truly reflected on the values that guide my work that I found three words at the core:
Impact – measurable value for the customer
Collaboration – not projects, but partnerships
Humanity – people first, even in change
On top of these came a vision, mission, and goal – not from my point of view, but from yours:
Vision
You succeed in procurement – with impact, together, and with humanity.
Mission
We develop your procurement with results, flexibility, and practical collaboration.
Goal
To create lasting value for you – for your business, people, and partnerships.
What does this mean for you?
With a clear vision and direction for your procurement development, you can:
Align actions with purpose
Engage stakeholders in a shared goal
Measure results through business impact
Differentiate through how you work – not just what you pay
It’s not just about managing procurement – it’s about elevating its performance. Building capability that creates competitive advantage.
So, what does your vision sound like?
If you haven’t yet defined it from your customer’s perspective – the value your procurement creates, how it supports the business, and what it enables – now is a great time to pause and reflect.
What can I offer?
A clear and shared direction is not just a statement on paper. It’s a practical tool for decision-making, prioritization, and collaboration. If you need help putting it into words, I can support you – because when the direction is clear, the work becomes truly impactful.
My expertise, tools, and services – facilitation, training, consulting, interim roles, and analytics – are just enablers for your goals. I’m not here to present slides. I’m here to help you achieve results that last.
In the end: Your direction, my role is to enable your procurement strategy
My job is not to define what you want to achieve – but to help you articulate it. I’m here as an enabler: to facilitate your thinking, challenge when needed, and help shape your ideas into a clear, shared vision.
📅 Get expert advice on procurement strategy and vision. Book a (free) sparring session
No obligations – but it might open a new direction.
📧 Contact me directly:
Phone: +358 50 4381912
Website: www.leadersbeacon.fi
Best regards,
Lauri Vihonen
Author of the blog on procurement strategy
I’ve written more than 200 blogs on procurement’s role, challenges, and opportunities – always grounded in real-world experience, successes, and lessons learned.
If you’re considering improving your procurement or recognized some familiar challenges, I recommend browsing my writings. You’ll find practical tools, insights, and ideas tailored to different industries and situations.
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