Being Able to Adapt: Pharmaceutical Change Management

A critical skill needed if you want to move into pharmacy management is the ability to manage change.

To paraphrase an old saw, “The only sure things in life are death, taxes…and change.”

If you’re the type who abhors change but you still have dreams of management, you’ll have to, well, change and learn to love the anti-status quo.

What are some other attributes of leaders who embrace change?

They communicate clearly their ideas and strategies for the changes they wish to see.
They promote best practices and exercise these proven strategies themselves, leading by example.
They’re willing to try the new and even the unproven, but they do so after looking at the situation and the strategy critically and objectively.
Speaking of strategies, they’re not afraid to develop their own strategies, strategies that they believe will promote growth for their employer.
Great leaders are able to persuade others that their ideas are good ones and that these ideas will bring positive results.
Pharmacy leaders also make a point of staying on top of trends in the profession.

As we mention change management, just what are some of the coming trends that will necessitate managing change in your company?

Managed care reimbursement and government regulation with increased oversight are just two. It’s going to take work and the willingness to “get down and dirty” if you want to lead your pharmacy firm in today’s global marketplace.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the skills that are needed to be an effective change management leader:

Critical Thinking: This skill means reframing the issues you face so that you focus on the right problems, allowing you to see patterns from seemingly random actions. Critical thinking also allows you to identify and weigh what the risks are for different decisions.
The Ability to Persuade: Those who possess this skill are able to remove obstacles to agreement, communicate their ideas effectively, assemble people in successful coalitions/teams, build credibility, and negotiate win-win agreements.
Communication Skills: Related to persuasive skills, the ability to communicate possibly is the second most critical of skills (next to critical thinking). Those who communicate well understand that it’s often better to listen than to speak because they understand that people are more amenable to cooperate with a leader when they feel their concerns or ideas have been truly heard.

If you’re a pharmacist who feels it’s time to change your future – to a position with more leadership or management responsibility – then send your CV/resume to a recruiter at Rx relief®. We have positions for pharmacists; recent grads with just a couple of years’ experience, to those with the skills to lead entire companies. (We also have positions for directors, interim directors, and pharmacy techs.). Contact us today!