Recently, I presented a webinar for the Pharmacy Guild of WA, as part of the Future Pharmacy Program.
It was all about planning for business growth. Something I recommend you all watch to start planning for your respective pharmacies. One theme that constantly came up in the webinar, and something I note that is common amongst pharmacies that fail in this process, is leadership and accountability. The two go hand in hand. You see any process of change, particularly regarding setting goals and planning for growth in your business, leadership and accountability are two key elements that are non-negotiable.
My Leadership Journey
If I reflect on my time at Peak Strategies, for me to achieve what I wanted to achieve at Peak, I knew it all started with me. It was my responsibility to set the vision for Peak. This includes setting the culture and to set the expectations. Here I was, the director of Peak Strategies, yet I knew nothing about what it meant to be a leader and lead a team.
But I knew I am always at my best when I have a mentor. So, throughout my time in business I have on and off always had a mentor to help guide me. My first few mentorships, as the mentee, was focussing purely on me. Like I said above, it all starts with me. I had to learn how to be a leader and to lead a team. This helped me realise how little I knew beforehand.
My mentors were the best in their field. The impact they had on me was incredible. The same applies to you. For some leadership comes easy. “We work as a team, and we do it my way”. For others it must be learnt. But for anyone who is a pharmacy owner, is a new pharmacy owner or is about to be a pharmacy owner, your leadership skills are paramount. My strongest suggestion, for anyone in an ownership or manager role is to work on your leadership skills, to try to be the best you can be. This starts with having the right mentor who can guide you. But you must be willing to change, to recognise your strengths and your failings.
Understand though, this process of change within yourself is uncomfortable. You will have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. You must push yourself to continue on a path where every fibre of your body will be protesting, it is not easy. But you must trust your mentor and trust the process, and believe in the goals and the vision you have for yourself, your lifestyle and your business. Now I hope when you’re reading this you hear the echo of my voice stating that it starts with you.
My last point, it never ends. I have new mentors who are challenging me on levels I could never fathom. There is always a new level that can be obtained.