Sep 17, 2026

Why Procurement Feels So Lonely (and What to Do About It)

By Kayla Voigt

6 min read

Feeling alone in procurement? It’s not you. It’s the org structure. Tom Mills of Procure Bites shares how to build real connections inside and outside your company.

A solitary silhouette stands among tall, colorful rectangular blocks on a green surface, subtly evoking the loneliness in procurement within an abstract, minimalist scene of purple, pink, and peach hues.

Procurement can feel pretty lonely at times.

When you’re constantly struggling to prove your team’s value…

When you’re fighting for a seat at the table before it’s too late to help…

When you just want to vent about how ridiculous supplier demands can be…

It’s hard if you’re on an “island” team like procurement that often operates in isolation. Sure, you may be sitting in an office around plenty of colleagues, but they don’t truly get it. Especially when so many people have the idea that “procurement is just going to slow me down.”

That couldn’t be further from the truth, which is why we sat down with Tom Mills from Procure Bites to talk about why procurement professionals tend to feel lonely, and how they can build better connections internally and externally.

Why procurement is so lonely in the first place

If you’re feeling lonely in procurement, it’s not you. It’s how many organizations are structured.

“Procurement teams are constantly under-resourced,” explains Tom. “Chronically so, because it’s often one of the very last functions an organization needs. Within a finance team, it’s a more mature organization that can build out a procurement team at all, and there’s usually the idea that, ‘Well, we’ve gotten this far.’”

In Tom’s various roles, he’s almost always been on one of the smallest teams in an entire company. “At Clark’s, I was part of a 13-person procurement team serving an IT organization that was more than 80 people. They’ve got huge team meetings, they’re going out and doing activities, there’s this sense of community that you just can’t replicate on a smaller team that’s distributed around the globe,” he recalls.

On an operating level, procurement is often on their own, too. “We’re not necessarily aligned to a particular function, given that we serve the organization at large, so there’s nowhere to plug into,” says Tom. “Every other function, like supply chain, marketing, professional services, or finance, all have teams structured around that activity, but procurement, even if it’s technically a part of the finance team, does something completely different, which means you’re working in isolation.”

Loneliness, then, is a byproduct of this organizational design.

When you’re the only person on your procurement team

It’s not unusual for procurement to be a team of one, the loneliest number of all. When that happens, there’s no one else in an organization you can truly talk to—and no one to champion your voice, either.

If that’s the case, be proactive about connecting outside your team. “I’ve joined plenty of teams as the sole member of procurement, and the first thing I do is build trust by understanding their world, rather than trying to educate them about mine,” says Tom. “Deliberately take time to understand the focus, priorities, and perspectives of the teams around you, so you can find the best opportunities to help them get there faster, or with less spend.”

Going in with a partnership-first mentality can help you get your job done, but it can also help you feel less alone. It’s a chance to share your perspective, too, so when you are in a meeting struggling to be the lone voice of reason, there’s empathy on both sides.

The better your relationships, the less likely you’re going to be lonely. That’s true whether you’re on a team of one or a team of twenty, and the key is slowing down and getting to know each individual as a person first.
Tom Millsprocurement protagonist, procure bites

Start by building connections internally

Networking is one of the best ways to further your career, but it’s not just about posting on LinkedIn. It’s about getting to know your team. “It’s so important for procurement professionals to network internally first, because that’s who matters the most to your day-to-day,” explains Tom. “You have to be willing to go get coffee with someone, get to know them and what they’re like beyond day-to-day work stuff. At the end of the day, procurement is all about people.”

Beyond coffee dates, find ways to get involved in your organization more broadly, whether it’s directly related to work or not:

Attend happy hours and mixers with the larger team and introduce yourself in a low-stakes environment
Volunteer for your organization’s day of service and sign up for a completely different team
Raise your hand for “extracurricular” projects like judging an intrapreneurship contest, joining a mentoring group, or serving on a party-planning committee
Join an office club or organization, such as a professional one like Toastmaster’s, or a non-professional one, like a softball team

Says Tom, “The last two companies I worked for, I started a running club. Partially because I love to run, and partially because I know it’s a great way to meet people outside of work. And we had a lot of fun. It may feel counterintuitive to focus on something technically outside of your responsibilities, but the power of that connection builds so many opportunities in the long term, and it makes working much less lonely.”

If you shy away from more formal activities, take a moment next time you visit the break room to look up from your phone and engage with the people around you. You’d be surprised how many other folks are on the same routine—you may start to slowly get to know your officemates just by showing up in the break room or taking a real lunch at the same time each day.

There’s a difference between being well known and being known well. So much of what gets lost in the networking conversation is the numbers game. I’d rather build a deeper connection with someone, whether it’s around procurement or not, because that’s where I can gain more insight and information on what’s happening in an organization, and also, just have someone to talk to.
Tom Millsprocurement protagonist, procure bites

You’re not alone: How to find other procurement professionals externally

“Sometimes, you just need a safe space to ask questions or rant without worrying about it getting back to your manager,” says Tom. “That’s why I always recommend trying to meet as many other procurement professionals as possible outside of your organization.”

Tom runs an online community for this purpose called Procurement Unplugged. But, he says, it’s no substitute for in-person connections you can make at conferences and other networking events. “I try to make it my intent to pick out three people and try to build a genuine connection with them,” he says. “It’s not a numbers game where you’re trying to rack up as many business cards as possible. I’d rather actually get to know someone, whether it’s because I picked them out ahead of time on the app as someone with experience that interests me, or because I ran into them in the coffee line.”

You never know where these kinds of connections can end up. “At a minimum, you’ve had a moment where you can feel less alone,” says Tom. “But you never know what will happen in two or three year’s time, so consider it an investment in your future.”

You’re not imagining it: Procurement is hard

Procurement absolutely gets lonely at times, admits Tom, but building these connections can help. “Procurement is a tough role, and yet so often I think it’s something about myself that makes it hard,” he says. “Then, I go to an event and realize we’re all in the same boat. You may be alone within your organization, but take comfort in knowing there are tons of other companies where procurement professionals feel the same thing.”

Read the whole series with procurement expert Tom Mills below:

Ironclad is not a law firm, and this post does not constitute or contain legal advice. To evaluate the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability of the ideas and guidance reflected here, or the applicability of these materials to your business, you should consult with a licensed attorney.