Personal Note from Rachel
Greetings,
Welcome to the May Edition of The Value of Positive Practice
May is shaping up to be a powerhouse month for growth, connection, and celebration across pharmacy and coaching communities alike.
With the National Pharmacy Conference, International Coaching Week, the Irish Pharmacy Awards, and the launch of our autumn and spring Lead with Coaching Diploma Programmes, there’s no better time to reflect on the foundations that underpin meaningful partnerships in practice—starting with how we Establish and Maintain Agreements.
Whether you’re coaching a colleague, mentoring a team, collaborating with patients, or preparing for CPD submissions, this month’s featured ICF Core Competency of 'Establishing and Maintaining Agreeements' invites us to pause and consider:
- How do we build agreements that empower, not constrain?
- What happens when clarity and consent go hand-in-hand?
- And how might stronger alignment enhance outcomes—for us, our clients, and our teams?
Let’s dive in.
🧽 Establishing and Maintaining Agreements
Creating Clarity, Strengthening Trust, and Elevating Outcomes
In both coaching and pharmacy leadership, how we begin often shapes where we end up.
Establishing and maintaining agreements is more than a formality—it’s the process of building a shared understanding. It helps set the tone, manage expectations, and create psychological safety from the very first interaction.
Whether you’re onboarding a new team member, collaborating with a locum, guiding a patient conversation, or entering a coaching partnership, this competency helps us:
- Clarify roles and responsibilities
- Set meaningful goals and measures of success
- Ensure alignment on boundaries, expectations, and scope
- Respect autonomy while co-creating outcomes
When agreements are unclear, relationships can stall or falter. But when they’re thoughtfully crafted, they become the foundation for mutual respect, accountability, and sustainable progress.
Reflective prompts to consider:
- Where might more explicit agreements strengthen trust in your day-to-day practice?
- What assumptions could be clarified to support smoother collaboration?
- How can you ensure agreements are co-created, not just communicated?
🌟 Real-World Anchors: Four Highlights This May
🏥 National Pharmacy Conference
Discover how collaborative agreements across teams and healthcare providers are revolutionising integrated care. If you are attending the 2025 National Pharmacy Conference, I look forward to meeting you on Saturday, 10 May, at the Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny. The IPU National Pharmacy Conference is a must-attend event for pharmacists and healthcare leaders across Ireland. With keynote speakers, expert panels, and breakout sessions exploring innovation, regulation, and the evolving role of pharmacists, it’s an incredible opportunity to gain insights, network with peers, and shape the future of pharmacy. Let’s come together to celebrate our profession and lead purposefully—we hope to see you there!
👉 Click here for full details and registration
🌍 International Coaching Week (13–19 May)
Celebrate International Coaching Week – 13–19 May 2025
This year marks the 30th anniversary of International Coaching Week (ICW), a global celebration hosted by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). From 13–19 May, coaches around the world will come together to raise awareness of the transformative power of coaching. With free events, workshops, webinars, and live coaching experiences, ICW is the perfect opportunity to explore how coaching enhances performance, wellbeing, and leadership across sectors. Whether you’re a seasoned coach, aspiring leader, or curious professional, there’s something for everyone.
👉 Celebrate the power of coaching to unlock potential. Each day on LinkedIn, we'll share quick insights on effective agreements. Follow along and join the conversation!
🏆 Irish Pharmacy Awards
Celebrate Excellence at the Irish Pharmacy Awards – 24 May 2025
We’re thrilled to recognise the passion, innovation, and professionalism of our colleagues at this year’s Irish Pharmacy Awards, taking place on Saturday, 24 May 2025, at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin. Organised by Irish Pharmacy News, this prestigious event honours individuals and teams across community pharmacy, leadership, service development, and more. It’s a night to connect, celebrate, and shine a spotlight on the incredible contributions pharmacists make to public health every day. Let’s applaud the innovators and leaders who exemplify ethical excellence in pharmacy. Congratulations to all nominees who are advancing our profession with dedication and impact. It has been my privilege over the past number of years to be a member of the judging panel for the Irish Pharmacy Awards, and this year is no exception. I continue to be inspired by the work and innovation of pharmacy colleagues in service of public health and wellbeing.
👏 Let’s take a moment to applaud those who lead with courage, curiosity, and compassion.
👉 Find out more or book your place here
Congratulations to all this year’s nominees—you inspire us all.
💻 Lead with Coaching – Enrolling Now
Our signature online programme returns. If you seek to lead with greater clarity, care, and confidence, this is your moment. Join the 2025 Cork cohort and transform how you lead
🚀 Lead With Coaching: Programmes That Help You Embody a Coaching Mindset
Embodying a coaching mindset is not just a skill—it's a leadership philosophy that fosters clarity, resilience, and deeper connection. Whether you’re new to coaching or looking to elevate your leadership, our Lead With Coaching (LCI) Programmes and the LCI Diploma in Coaching for Leaders offer two dynamic ways to fully embody this transformative approach.
LCI's Diploma in Coaching for Leaders is ideal for leaders, pharmacists, and teams ready to integrate coaching into everyday leadership. Through peer-based learning and real-time practice, you’ll:
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Practice reflective leadership in a supported environment.
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Engage in cross-sector learning and connection.
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Gain tools to embed coaching principles into team culture
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Explore the real challenges of communication, mindset, and accountability
This is where theory meets lived experience. You’ll learn to hold space, ask better questions, and cultivate ownership in those you lead. 📆 We are enrolling now for our 2025 online and in-person cohorts. Our Foundation Cork cohort runs in-person in September - with Part 2 of our LCI Coaching Diploma for Leaders running in October.
The LCI Diploma in Coaching for Leaders offers a structured, in-depth development pathway if you're ready to take your coaching leadership even further. It will help you:
✨ Lead with clarity, empathy, and structure
💼 Empower team ownership and accountability
🎯 Reconnect with purpose and possibility
💡 Build sustainable growth through coaching conversations
Why now?
🗓️ Our Cork cohort, beginning 10th Sept is our only OPEN in-person cohort for 2025
🎁 Early bird pricing + 6-month Inner Circle bonus available now
👥 Limited to 20 cross-industry leaders
🔗 Explore the LCI Diploma and Lead With Coaching Programmes
🚀 Professional Development Opportunities
From Clarity to Confidence—Support for Every Stage of Your Journey
🧡 90-Minute Strategy Session
Sharpen your agreements with focused coaching. Align expectations, clarify priorities, and set the tone for high-impact conversations.
👉 Book your session now
🧠 Cross-Professional Supervision
For coaches, mentors, and leaders facing complex dilemmas, gain perspective in a safe, confidential space.
👉 Schedule your supervision slot
🎓 Lead with Coaching Programme – Autumn 2025 and Spring 2026 Cohorts
Refine your leadership approach with coaching skills that elevate team culture and trust.
👉 Apply now—spaces are limited!
📥 Just Get It Done CPD Mentoring
Submit your ePortfolio with confidence. This targeted session supports pharmacists under PSI review timelines.
👉 Reserve your mentoring session today
💬 Final Reflections
At its heart, establishing agreements is about creating space for honesty, clarity, and shared commitment.
Whether you’re guiding a CPD conversation, launching a new service, or supporting a peer, we hope this month's newsletter encourages you to lead with greater intentionality and presence.
Next month, we’ll explore the closely connected theme of Cultivating Trust and Safety—a foundation of coaching and leadership that empowers open communication, courageous reflection, and real growth.
Thank you for walking this journey with us.
Warmest wishes,
Rachel
The Pharmacist Coach
Director of Education, Lead With Coaching Institute
Also, not sure what kind of support would help most right now? Email me at rachel@racheldungan.com, and we’ll figure it out together.
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