Bringing the Trusted Business Advisor to Life

2. Breakout Session # Lisa Doyle, Chancellor, VA Acquisition Academy Bringing the Trusted Business Advisor to Life December 9, 2011 2:15 – 3:30 p.m.

3. The Government is in the process of recruiting, hiring, training, allocating, incentivizing, developing, and retaining tens of thousands of new professionals. It’s important to think about WHO we want as the stewards of more than $500B per year in acquisition funds. Workforce Analysis

4. Acquisition leaders must ask core questions about the workforce they lead: How do I get the most from my workforce? How do I assure that their efforts make the greatest contribution to my agency? Is there something more we can do to develop them so they can have the most fulfilling career possible? Workforce Analysis

5. Members of the acquisition workforce must also ask core questions: How do I maximize the meaning and value available from my job? How can I make the greatest contribution to my agency’s mission? Workforce Introspection

6. We are in a continuous search for meaning, context and relevance. Leaders are constantly looking for ways to improve outcomes through workforce development. Workforce Development

7. The Department of Veterans Affairs – through the VA Acquisition Academy – is addressing these issues by creating the next generation of acquisition professionals, developing them in a holistic way, and charging them with making a meaningful difference. VA Workforce Development

8. At the VA Acquisition Academy, we are developing trusted business advisors to guide our workforce development activities, and to lay out the challenge for both leaders and the members of the workforce to embrace this role. The Trusted Business Advisor

9. What is a trusted business advisor? Trust: To rely upon or place confidence in someone or something; assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone. Business Acumen: Quickness, accuracy, and keenness of judgment. Advisor: One who offers an opinion or recommendation as a guide to action, conduct. The Trusted Business Advisor

10. Technical skills are NOT enough VA has developed a comprehensive curriculum to build skills that we believe are essential to maximizing performance of each member of the acquisition team. Holistic curriculum includes interpersonal skills, program management, leadership, oral and communication, powerful speaking and listening, innovative/creative thinking skills, and risk management. We are grounded in the FAR Guiding Principles [FAR 1.102(d)] – exercising discretionary authority and sound business judgment; applying the intent behind the rules. If the FAR doesn’t say you can’t do it, try it! Developing the Trusted Business Advisor

11. What skills, competencies, and characteristics personify a trusted business advisor? This role has been depicted in written form for years. Our picture brings the concept to life. Characteristics of the Trusted Business Advisor

12. The brain reflects core knowledge and the ability to find information when needed. Includes business acumen, business judgment, decision-making, analytical skills, and strategic thinking Includes creativity, innovation, and interpersonal skills Bringing the Trusted Business Advisor to Life

13. Ears listen carefully and seek to fully understandcustomer needs and clearlyfocus on results. Seek first to understand, then be understood. Bringing the Trusted Business Advisor to Life

14. Eyes to have awareness of the marketplace and their surroundings; studying/reading; self awareness. Bringing the Trusted Business Advisor to Life

15. The mouth clearly articulates the message; asks relevant questions; voices challenging assumptions; gives good business advice. Bringing the Trusted Business Advisor to Life

16. Strong shoulders to take responsibility and accountability for decisions, performance, and work products. Bringing the Trusted Business Advisor to Life

17. A heart provides our moralcompass, ethics, integrity, empathy, and mission service. A commitment to personal growth and improvement Build and manage relationships A public servant at heart Bringing the Trusted Business Advisor to Life

18. Hands for strong writing skills to write clear and concise documents. Elbows and knees provide flexibility to be innovative, creative, and adaptive to changes. Bringing the Trusted Business Advisor to Life

19. A tool belt of skills in Leadership Contracting Project Management Interpersonal Skills Learning Agility Problem Solving Insights into Industry Bringing the Trusted Business Advisor to Life

20. Feet to take you on your meaningful leadership journey. Bringing the Trusted Business Advisor to Life

21. The Trusted Business Advisor: A Holistic Approach Business Judgment / Business Acumen / Decision Making / Analytical Skills / Strategic Thinking Creativity / Innovation / Interpersonal Skills Awareness of marketplace and surroundings / Reading / Studying / Self Awareness Listening Skills / Seek first to understand, then to be understood / Fully understand customer needs Communication / Public Speaking / Articulate Message / Asks Relevant Questions / Gives Good business Advice Strong Shoulders to take responsibility and accountability for decisions, performance, and products Professionalism / Leadership Skills Strength / Negotiation Skills / Skill Building to take theory and put it into practice Moral Compass / Ethics / Integrity / Empathy / Compassion / Mission Service / “Public Servants at Heart” / Build and Manage Relationships • The Right Tools in contracting tool belt • Contracting Skills • Performance-Based Acquisition • Strategic Sourcing • Program Management • Negotiation • Risk Analysis • Learning Agility • Problem Solving • Insights into Industry Hands for Strong Writing Skills Knees and Elbows provide flexibility Feet to take you on your leadership journey