Tender coaching: 8 techniques to build resilience
Tania Field, Principal Tender Specialist (Sydney)
The practice of bidding requires lots of skill and technique. There are a bunch of generalist skills that people possess or have trained in that makes them ideal candidates to undertake bidding – such as leadership, project management, planning and organisation, writing, analysis, strategic thinking and communication. There are also the skills that individuals possess in specific subject matter to respond to niche questions – such as construction methodologies, design, procurement, sustainability, health and safety, finance and legal.
Bidding requires great things of all of us but at the heart of everything, I consider resilience to be the most critical skill of all. Resilience at the core is knowing that things are hard but embracing these challenges anyway. Often when we get through a challenging period we grow enormously, which makes it a satisfying experience.
Resilience plays a very important role in the bid process and we should talk more about it. Here are my tips to challenge yourself, push through when the going gets tough and build this critical skill.
8 techniques to build resilience
On many occasions I found myself thinking that the work is unsurmountable and I’m worried we won’t get through it. That’s when I know I need to reframe thinking or else it’s game over. Here are my tips to challenge yourself, push through and build resilience.
1. Learn as you go by asking for input and advice
It might feel silly but sometimes you can’t see the forest through the trees. Ask for advice or brainstorm a challenge to know what your next move is.
2. Know that you have done the best with the time you have
In certain circumstances that ‘80%’ might have to be good enough – if the workload is huge then answer the question(s) and get yourself to a comfortable 80% finished and say “Next!”.
3. Get bold to unlock a stalemate
Turn up unannounced if your emails and phone calls are left unanswered, and don’t ask or wait for permission just do it.
4. Get creative to solve a challenge
Break down tasks to mini tasks, get writing yourself and direct subject matter experts to fill in the gaps, ask the business to purchase external help.
5. Escalate matters that are ongoing red flags
Sound the alarm and call attention to issues. Don’t be afraid to call out if performance is lacking – it’s not being a snitch, it’s called risk management. You may need to push through in some capacity until the cavalry arrives, but inevitably they always do.
6. Practice positive mantras
Remember that ‘bids are messy’ and practice asking ‘will it lose us the bid?’. This should help navigate tricky feelings and situations. Having these handy mantras bring a sense of peace and logic to the experience.
7. Know which hill to die on
Not every battle has to be fought so play smart. (Read more here: This is not the hill I am willing to die on.)
8. Practise self-care
Having a good meal and good night’s rest can often solve a lot of issues. Things tend to look different with fresh eyes and you need time to recuperate to give your best.
I implore you to undertake these techniques during your next bid. Take charge of your situation and push through with a toolkit and frame of mind that helps you grow from the experience. If you would like to read another perspective on building resilience try this: Manifesting resilience on tenders.
Need tender coaching to push through your next tender because you recognise that resilience is character building? Tender Plus offers tender management and support in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Australia wide. Click here to learn about what we do.