Without realising it then, my very first job as a waitress was great preparation for the world of bids. Only in my later years did it occur to me that this experience really opened my eyes! I learned the value of the three P’s: People, Personality, and Pressure!
Anyone who has waited on tables in a popular family restaurant on a bustling Saturday night knows the frenetic pace at which you operate. We used to call it “spinning” because we literally spun from one duty to the next without a moment to breathe. You had to have your wits about you; but most of all, you had to have a passion for your job and especially for the patrons you were assisting. In hindsight, this exposure gave me the resilience, tenacity, and, most importantly, the ability to “spin” or pivot at the lastminute, which is a huge necessity to run a bid process and run it well!
Most bid managers will tell you they “fell into the role”, and I am no different. I am thankful every day for those few years in the restaurant business. It was a good grounding in work ethic and helped shape my love for what I do. A lot of people will tell you that you either love bid management, or you hate it. I’m sure I’ve made it clear that I absolutely love it.
I was fortunate to have had 20 years’ experience as a bid manager for a large IT company. And then life happened: I was retrenched during COVID, when very few jobs were available, and even fewer in bid management. I took PA roles, but nothing satisfied me like the fulfilment and meaningful difference I knew I could make by working on complex bids and delivering a world-class solution.
And along came nFold; not a moment too soon – offering me the opportunity to assist on a tender as a consultant. Because I hadn’t been in bid management per se for four years, I didn’t realise how much I missed it until I was back in it.
While watching rugby one Saturday evening, I received a very welcome message from (Larissa nFold), asking if I would help run a bid for a client, as their bid manager had fallen ill. Among the many hats that nFolders wear, the most admirable is always going the extra mile to assist when resources are down and work still needs to get done.
Well, needless to say, I jumped out of my seat, and no one had even scored a try! Although nervous and filled with trepidation, I was excited. I knew I’d be working with a great team who had my back.
As bid managers, we know not every bid is exciting! I was just happy to get back “into the swing of things”.
But I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. At this point, most people who aren’t bid managers, or who don’t have a passion for anything admin-related, look at me sideways and ask if I’m OK!! And that’s why many people agree: you either love it or you loath it.
I read the bid the very next day to familiarise myself with what the client was requesting. The complexity of the layout and requirements challenged me, and I had that nostalgic feeling of “this is where I belong” – helping customers solve their complex or challenging problems. We had one week to put together a compelling bid. Calm and steady, though, wins the race.
My daily engagement with nFold and the client was essential to stay on top of the requirements and expectations from each side, with constant alignment with what the client wanted.
A very big part of bid management is open, constant communication, and this happens naturally when you establish rapport with both colleagues and clients alike.
I’m sure you’ve gathered that bid management is a passion but most importantly, it’s about the people. If you don’t like people, bid management is not for you!
Being able to drive deadlines calmly, and remain calm when deadlines are missed, is a gift. One of the roles of a bid manager is to remain focused so that the client doesn’t feel that anxiety. Not only is it unprofessional, but the client is stressed enough. And I was calm for the most part.
Except when I couldn’t find a document. It had disappeared into the abyss. I retraced every step, every folder, every email… nothing. SPINNING doesn’t even begin to cover it. I called Larissa, and in true nFold style, she was unshaken: calm, positive, and convinced we’d sort it out. We didn’t. I had to ask the client to resend it. Awkward, but necessary.
The final hours were intense with tight deadlines, mountains of documents, and no room for error. My boyfriend had no idea I worked this hard. Cheeky! But that’s the nature of bid management: it demands grit, heart, and the satisfaction of knowing your team delivered a world-class proposal before the deadline.
Thank you for trusting me with the autonomy to contribute meaningfully, to make changes, offer suggestions, and truly feel part of the team. I’ve learned so much… and I know there’s still more to learn.
I’m energised. Grateful. And absolutely hooked. Again.
