Personal Note from Rachel

Personal Note from Rachel:

As we navigate the complexities of modern leadership, one theme that continuously emerges is the central role of People. In October, I’m focusing on how values-based leadership and a coaching style of leadership empower individuals and teams to thrive, adapt, and grow with purpose. In pharmacy and other fast-paced sectors, many leaders are struggling with outdated leadership models that no longer resonate with the needs of today’s diverse and dynamic workforce. This month, let’s dive into how values-based leadership, supported by coaching, creates a thriving culture and allows you and your people to flourish.  

ICF’s New Competency Frameworks: Raising the Bar in Coaching and Leadership

I am excited to share significant news from the International Coaching Federation (ICF): the launch of two new competency frameworks, one for Mentor Coaching and one for Coaching Supervision. As an ICF Mentor Coach at the ACC, PCC, and MCC levels, and an EMCC-credentialed Supervisor, I’m honoured to have been one of many contributors to these frameworks, which elevate the standards of excellence in our field.

These frameworks are vital for any coach, mentor, or leader committed to growth and excellence. They provide structured guidance on deepening coaching practices, enhancing reflective capacities, and aligning with ICF’s core values: Integrity, Excellence, Collaboration, and Respect.

The Impact of ICF Mentor Coaching and Supervision

With the new ICF competency frameworks for Mentor Coaching and Supervision, there has never been a better time to commit to your growth as a leader. These tools not only ensure excellence in coaching but also provide a values-based foundation for your leadership practice. Mentor coaching helps you refine your approach, while supervision ensures reflective learning and adherence to ethical standards.

• Reflective Question: How might supervision or mentor coaching help you align your leadership with your values?
• Call to Action: Join me in a mentor coaching session or supervision to enhance your leadership and coaching practice, grounded in values and integrity.

The Value of Values-Based Leadership

What does it mean to lead with values? At its heart, values-based leadership focuses on aligning individual and organisational actions with core ethical principles. This approach fosters a culture where people are respected, teams collaborate effectively, and businesses can scale sustainably. Values-based leadership is increasingly recognised as not only an ethical imperative but also a competitive advantage, leading to better decision-making, innovation, and long-term success.

Coaching Empowers Values-Based Leadership

One powerful way to embody values-based leadership is through a coaching style of leadership. As a leader, you’re often faced with challenging conversations around vision, values, and team performance. Whether it’s giving and receiving feedback, managing stress, or navigating change, a coaching approach can help you hold these conversations more effectively. Here’s how:

• Active Listening & Empathy: Coaching leaders listen deeply, ensuring that each voice in their organization is heard and valued.
• Powerful Questions: Coaching helps leaders ask questions that inspire reflection, creativity, and accountability in their teams.
• Empowering Others: Coaching leadership is about empowering people to align their actions with shared values, unlocking their potential and creating a sense of ownership and purpose.

As you work to develop a values-based culture in your organisation, coaching can support you in shifting from a directive to a collaborative approach. Imagine the potential for growth when every conversation is centered around empowering others, resolving conflict with empathy, and fostering a learning culture.

Personal Insight: Learning from the Best

As a professional deeply committed to continuous learning, I have had the privilege of engaging in some cutting-edge coaching and leadership training recently. Here are a few personal insights I’ve gained from attending these sessions:

1. Compassion, Empathy, and Resilience (Coaching.com Membership)

• Personal Insight: Compassionate leadership helps create an environment where people feel safe and motivated to contribute their best. Empathy strengthens relationships, and resilience allows us to navigate adversity with grace.
• Reflective Question: How can you cultivate more compassion and resilience in your leadership approach?
• Call to Action: Enroll in Lead With Coaching to learn how coaching builds empathy and resilience in leaders and teams.

2. Positive Intelligence Re-Imagined (Shirzad Chamine)

• Personal Insight: Shifting from a Saboteur mindset to a Sage mindset helps leaders maintain clarity and creativity, leading with integrity and purpose.
• Reflective Question: What mental shifts do you need to make to lead more effectively with your values?
• Call to Action: Invest in PQ powered one-on-one coaching to develop your Positive Intelligence and lead with mental clarity and emotional strength.

3. Belief Transformation Mastery (Clear Beliefs Institute)

• Personal Insight: Transforming limiting beliefs in yourself and your team unleashes greater potential and aligns actions with deeply held values.
• Reflective Question: What beliefs are holding you back from embodying the values you stand for?
• Call to Action: Engage in leadership coaching to uncover and transform limiting beliefs in yourself and your organisation.

Values-Based Leadership (DePaul University)

• Personal Insight: Values-based leadership builds long-term resilience by ensuring that both leaders and teams can navigate complex, ethical dilemmas with confidence, knowing that decisions are rooted in shared principles.
• Reflection Question: How clearly are your values reflected in your leadership approach and decision-making processes? How might aligning more fully with your core values improve your leadership effectiveness and team engagement?
• Call to Action: Invest in leadership coaching to identify, clarify, and integrate your core values into your leadership style, or join our Lead With Coaching programme to learn how to embed values-based leadership into your organizational culture for long-term success..

Final Thoughts: People as the Heart of Leadership

As you reflect on the People aspect of your leadership, remember that how you lead directly impacts the culture of your organisation. When you lead with coaching, you are not just managing tasks but inspiring growth, creativity, and accountability. By aligning your leadership approach with values, you build a culture that not only survives but thrives.

• Reflective Question: What values are you consciously living in your leadership today? How can coaching help you deepen your alignment with those values?
• Call to Action: Explore the benefits of coaching with our Lead With Coaching Programme or consider investing in team development coaching to foster a values-driven culture in your organisation.

Warmly,
Rachel 
Co-Founder, Lead With Coaching Institute and 4Front Pharmacy

4Front’s 6Ps of Positive Practice focus on Mastering Six Inter-Connecting Factors – Purpose, Personal, Professional, People, Products & Services and Prosperity.

This Month's Focus: People Development

Fostering Excellence in Pharmacy People Leadership - Part 1

Introduction: In the world of pharmacy and healthcare, success isn't just about the medications we dispense; it's about the strength of our teams and the quality of our workplace environment. Today, we explore the first four statements from our "6Ps of Pharmacy Excellence Self-Assessment" that shed light on creating an exceptional workplace.

Why it Matters: A workplace that attracts and retains high-performing staff and is known as a 'great place to work' is a hallmark of success. It's the breeding ground for innovation, teamwork, and, ultimately, top-notch patient care. Click here to read the complete article. 

Calls to Action

1. Self-Assessment Tool
- For a self-assessment of your Pharmacy Practice through the lens of 4Front’s 6Ps of Positive Practice, complete 4Front’s complimentary 6Ps of Positive Practice Self-Assessment Tool. Visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8997C89

2. Leadership Skills Development
- To grow your (and your team’s) leadership skills in a practical, enjoyable, multi-disciplinary environment, visit http://www.leadwithcoaching.org.

3. Personal Leadership Transformation
- To transform yourself as a leader, go to http://www.racheldungan.coachesconsole.com.

4. OTC Training Upgrade
- To upgrade your team’s OTC training, visit http://www.4frontpharmacy.ie.

My CPD Reflective Practice Cycle  Title: Empowering Pharmacist Leadership through Values-Centred Leadership

Self-Appraisal:

As a Pharmacist Coach, I recognise the critical role of values-centred leadership in shaping resilient and compassionate healthcare professionals. The rationale behind focusing my CPD on Values Centered Leadership is rooted in the belief that by deepening my understanding of this approach, I can expand my peer network of leaders who also share a values based ethos, and effectively coach and train pharmacists to embrace and enhance their own values-based leadership styles. This intentional focus aligns with the growing need to support and empower ethical and compassionate leaders in the healthcare sector.

Personal Plan:  To apply and integrate Values Centered Leadership principles into my coaching practice, I plan to identify opportunities to engage in values based leadership training and/or communities of practice.

Action Taken:

I chose to enrol in the DePaul University's Values Centered Leadership program because its purpose, learning objectives, outcomes, timing and methodology aligned with my needs.  The Values Centered Leadership programs at DePaul University aims to cultivate leaders in social justice realms, including healthcare, who embody ethical, compassionate, and impactful leadership practices. Rooted in a commitment to values-driven decision-making, these programs aspire to shape leaders who navigate the complexities of healthcare with integrity, empathy, and a focus on the well-being of both individuals and communities.  Click here to read the complete CPD Focus article.

If you are a pharmacist who has been called for ePortfolio Review this year, and you would value partnering with a pharmacist colleague to Just Get It Done, CLICK HERE to schedule a 1-2-1 session with Rachel. Most colleagues find this partnership approach to be way less stressful and more fun to meet regulatory requirements and create valuable learning.  

Upcoming Opportunities for

Reflective Practice with 4Front

The most successful and inspiring professionals understand the importance of regular reflective practice. By dedicating time to reflect, they become better equipped to avoid burnout, find deeper fulfillment in their careers, and navigate challenges with renewed clarity. Whether you're a coach, pharmacist, or leader, prioritising this space for reflection allows you to step back, gain new perspectives, and enhance your impact.

If you're ready to prioritise your well-being and professional growth, consider partnering with me for group or one-on-one supervision or mentor coaching. Together, we’ll strengthen your reflective thinking skills and develop strategies for a balanced and rewarding career.

For coaches seeking to deepen their competencies, I offer ICF Mentor Coaching (ACC, PCC, MCC).  Through competency-focused mentoring, we work on honing your unique expression of coaching skills within professional relationships, offering a rich space for growth.  Recently, I had the honour of deconstructing an MCC Exam Pass recording live, helping Professional Certified Coaches (PCC) understand what it takes to pass the MCC performance evaluations and apply those lessons to their own practice. Ready to focus on your unique path to mastery?  Click here for Rachel | 10 Questions to Ask your ICF Mentor Coach

Group Super-vision for MCC Coaches: I’m excited to lead a monthly MCC supervision group through Reciprocoach, providing a deeper experience for those who prefer a more intimate and ongoing reflective practice. In this group, I get to reflect on recent coaching experiences with MCC coaches, to deepen our understanding and practice in a supportive, structured environment.  Click here to learn more about supervision groups with Reciprocoach.

Reflective practice is a powerful way to unlock your professional potential. For those ready to take the next step, I invite you to book a 4-session block for private super-vision or a 3-session block for mentor coaching. Click here to book your sessions with Rachel.

Recent Events

Leadership Development | Looking Back and Growing Forward

As leaders, we constantly strive to refine our ability to empower others and ourselves in complex environments. This month, I share my reflections on a leadership development training I attended in October and share some forward-looking plans for November as we continue our journey of growth and learning.

October Recap: Enhancing Compassion and Empathy Through Resilience Training

In a thought-provoking session led by Lucy Shanuda and featuring Dr. Taryn Marie Stayskal, participants delved into the vital connection between coaching, compassion, and resilience. Dr. Stayskal, a renowned expert and author of "The 5 Practices of Highly Resilient People," shared her insights on how coaches can cultivate empathy and resilience in their practice.

Key practices discussed included:

Vulnerability: The importance of aligning internal thoughts with external expressions to foster deeper connections.
Productive Perseverance: Understanding when to persist or pivot in challenging situations.
Connection: Building trust within oneself and nurturing external relationships.
Gratiosity: Finding gratitude in adversity and sharing stories of resilience.
Possibility: Emphasizing progress over perfection and embracing risks as opportunities for growth.

The session featured engaging breakout activities, such as the "Reverse Bucket List," which encouraged participants to reflect on past challenges, and "Proactive Language" exercises aimed at shifting perspectives and enhancing empathy.

Dr. Stayskal emphasized that resilience is an innate quality in everyone, suggesting that it can be developed through intentional practices, particularly through mindful language that strengthens empathetic connections.

Attendees were motivated to incorporate these practices into their coaching methodologies, reinforcing the session's core message that resilience and empathy are essential tools for effective coaching. Participants are invited to complete a feedback survey and a quiz to earn their credit units, ensuring they continue their journey of growth and learning.

Leading Forward: Interactional Coaching: The Psychodynamics of ‘Difficult’, ‘Defensive’ and ‘Defeating’ People

Next month, I look forward to sharing my recap of the upcoming webinar presented by Michelle Brody, a distinguished Clinical Psychologist, Executive Coach, and leading authority on conflict resolution. This enlightening session will delve into the complexities of interacting with 'difficult' individuals, offering invaluable insights through the lens of interactional coaching. Many conventional strategies often fall short, leaving relationships ensnared in dysfunction; however, this session introduces an innovative approach that promises to unlock new avenues of hope and possibility. Participants will learn the significance of employing interactional tools and grasp the psychodynamics of mistrust, which are essential for fostering constructive engagement.

Gain key learning takeaways, including the ability to differentiate between various strategies for managing challenging individuals—whether to sanction, avoid, or engage. Furthermore, we will explore how ineffective feedback can lead to increased avoidance and a sense of hopelessness. The session will also empower participants with the 'sun' approach, a practical method designed to circumvent defensiveness and cultivate an environment conducive to positive change. By equipping yourself with these essential tools, you will be better prepared to guide your clients towards a brighter and more constructive future. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and transform your approach to conflict resolution.

📚 Discover Books to Elevate Your Learning Journey!

Welcome to our book corner, where we curate insightful reads to complement your learning from our workshops

 "Leading with Values: Positivity, Virtue, and High Performance" by Edward D. Hess & Kim S. Cameron

Why it’s great: This book blends positive psychology with leadership, showing how organizations can achieve sustained high performance by integrating values like integrity, kindness, and excellence. It provides practical tools to transform corporate culture through virtuous behaviors.

Relevance to values-based leadership: It explores the link between personal virtues and organizational performance, showing that leaders who operate from a values-driven mindset foster trust, collaboration, and innovation within their teams.
How coaching enables values-based leadership: Coaching enhances the practice of values-based leadership by encouraging leaders and team members to reflect on how their decisions align with core values. Through powerful questioning and active listening, coaching leaders facilitate self-awareness and growth, which strengthens the organization's value system.

Key takeaway: By integrating coaching into leadership, organizations create an environment where values aren’t just theoretical but are actively lived, creating a high-performing, ethical workplace.

Reflective question: In what ways are you currently leading with values? How could incorporating a coaching style deepen the alignment between your actions and your core values?

Call to action: Invest in leadership coaching to align your leadership style with your values and transform your workplace culture. Join our Lead With Coaching Programme to learn how to coach with a values-based focus. To learn more, visit www.leadwithcoaching.org

"Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential and How You Can Achieve Yours" by Shirzad Chamine

Why it’s great: This book introduces the concept of the Sage and Saboteur mindsets, offering insights on how to overcome negative mental patterns and harness the power of emotional intelligence. It’s a powerful guide to developing mental fitness, enhancing performance, and improving well-being.

Relevance to values-based leadership: By learning to quiet the inner Saboteur, leaders can better align with their values and lead from a place of empathy, resilience, and mindfulness. This book equips leaders with the tools to be more self-aware and emotionally intelligent in their leadership journey.

How coaching enables values-based leadership: Coaching leaders help individuals recognize and overcome their mental Saboteurs, supporting them in aligning their behavior with their values. This creates a values-driven culture where individuals work with a positive mindset, contributing to a healthier, more adaptive organization.

Key takeaway: Positive intelligence leads to greater self-mastery, allowing leaders to lead with clarity, compassion, and purpose, creating a values-based, thriving culture.

Reflective question for readers: What negative thought patterns or Saboteurs are holding you back from leading with your values? How could coaching help you develop a more positive mindset?

Call to action: Discover how Positive Intelligence can help you become a more emotionally intelligent leader by working with a coach. Enroll in our Lead With Coaching Programme to start mastering these mental fitness techniques. To learn more, visit www.leadwithcoaching.org

Announcement:  ICF Unveils Groundbreaking Mentor Coaching and Coaching Super-Vision Competencies: A New Era in Professional Development

Exciting news from the International Coaching Federation (ICF)! Today marks a significant milestone with the launch of two brand-new competency frameworks: one for Mentor Coaching and one for Coaching Supervision. As a pharmacist,  ICF Mentor Coach at the ACC, PCC, and MCC levels, as well as an EMCC credentialed supervisor, I am very familiar with competency frameworks and I am delighted to see this important development.  These frameworks set new standards of excellence, distinguishing the competencies required for effective Mentor Coaching and Coaching Supervision, ensuring that coaches at every level continue to grow professionally and uphold the highest standards of our field.

For coaches who are committed to their professional development, this is a game-changer. These frameworks provide clear guidance on how to deepen your coaching practice, enhance your reflective capacities, and ensure that you stay aligned with the ICF’s core values and ethical standards. Whether you are seeking mentor coaching to elevate your ICF credential or supervision to reflect on your practice, these tools will be invaluable in your growth journey.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your development as a coach, I invite you to explore ICF Mentor Coaching or Coaching Supervision with me. Together, we can ensure that your practice and our profession continues to thrive and evolve, in alignment with these new competency frameworks.

https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/core-competencies/coaching-supervision

https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/core-competencies/mentor-coaching

Upcoming Opportunities for Leaders, Managers and Supervisors 

Coaching: 4Front's ABCDE™ Pharmacist Coach Academy

Bespoke 1-2-1 Coaching for Experienced, New and Aspiring Supervising & Superintendent Pharmacists.  

As my client, I invite you to embrace coaching with wholehearted curiosity as you navigate challenges and dive to the heart of what is truly most important for you (as an individual and/or team). 

4Front's Pharmacist Coach Academy Programme: The 6 Ps of Positive Practice is an innovative hybrid programme meticulously crafted to provide an empowering learning journey for all participants, bridging the gap between knowledge and action. Whether you seek to elevate your current success, find balance amidst the busyness of life, or face challenges in various aspects of your well-being, this programme offers a transformative experience tailored to your specific needs.

In this bespoke programme, you will embark on a path of self-discovery, growth, and development, guided by mentors and coaches who will empower you to identify and cultivate essential skills for success. The programme equips you with practical tools and resources and nurtures a mindset of continuous learning and collaboration. Participants benefit from personalised guidance, peer discussions, and access to a resource library to enhance their skills and decision-making abilities.

Enroll now in 4Front's Pharmacist Coach Academy and embark on a journey to unlock your full potential, enhance your leadership skills, and positively impact your professional and personal life. Don't wait any longer to invest in your growth and well-being. Take action today and join us on this empowering and transformative experience!

If you are interviewing a coach, mentor coach or coaching super-visor you are considering working with to progress your goals, here are some questions you could consider asking - and my responses to those questions.

Rachel | 10 Questions to Ask Your Coach

 Celebrating the Learning and Growth of Cohort 3: Lead with Coaching Foundation Programme (LWC-F)

This month, we are thrilled to celebrate the learning and achievements of Cohort 3 graduates of the Lead with Coaching Foundation (LWC-F) Programme! Graduates from eight diverse companies and across a wide range of industries—elder care, child care, engineering, construction, pharmacy, healthcare, logistics, digital marketing, and more—came together to expand their leadership capabilities. Participants from roles such as CEO, Managing Director, Business Development Manager, Superintendent Pharmacist, Sales Lead, Operations, Marketing, and Finance worked side by side, each contributing to and learning from the collective experience.

A Unique Learning Journey for Values-Based Leaders

What makes the LCI leadership development journey so special is the rich diversity of perspectives and experiences, united by a shared commitment to values-based leadership. At the heart of the Lead with Coaching Foundation Programme is a learning philosophy that encourages participants to align their leadership practice with their core values. Whether it was leading teams through change, fostering innovation, or creating a more inclusive work culture, participants learned to lead with coaching—an approach grounded in self-awareness, empathy, active listening, and powerful questioning.

Aligned with LCI's vision, this programme provided the environment for leaders to develop the mindset, skills, and competencies required to foster a coaching culture within their own organizations. Our commitment to integrity, collaboration, respect, and excellence underpins the design and delivery of each module, creating a space where leaders can grow, reflect, and lead with purpose.

Through carefully designed modules, live sessions, and practical coaching exercises, participants cultivated the leadership capabilities necessary for today’s fast-evolving world. The LWC-F Programme challenges outdated leadership models, offering participants an opportunity to engage in difficult conversations, empower their teams, and create sustainable, values-driven growth for their businesses.

Values-Based Leadership in Action

A key highlight of this cohort for us at LCI was how each leader embraced values-based leadership and committed to embedding coaching into their everyday interactions. The diversity of functions and industries allowed for cross-functional learning, where leaders could see the benefits of coaching in diverse settings—from elder care to digital marketing, pharmacy to engineering. The impact of this programme stretched beyond individual growth, as each participant began to see how adopting a coaching style of leadership would help create thriving cultures in their organisations, empowering their people to contribute meaningfully toward shared goals.

A Step Forward: The Lead with Coaching Practitioner Programme

For those graduates ready to take their leadership to the next level, I am excited to share that we are launching our inaugural Lead with Coaching Practitioner (LWC-P) Programme.  This exclusive programme builds on the foundation established in LWC-Foundation and is only available to LWC-F graduates. The LWC-P Programme deepens and expands the skills required to be a world-class values-based leader. Participants will dive further into advanced coaching techniques, practice difficult conversations, and integrate leadership tools that are designed to empower teams, drive performance, and foster sustainable growth.

If you’re a recent LWC-F graduate, this is your invitation to continue your journey. The LWC-P Programme is the next step toward becoming the leader your people need, as you learn to lead with coaching, integrity, and a commitment to personal and professional growth.

Reflective Question

How can you further integrate the values you hold dear into your leadership style? How can leading with coaching help you build a culture of growth and empowerment in your organisation?

Call to Action:

• If you are a recent LWC-Foundation graduate, we invite you to apply for the upcoming Lead with Coaching Practitioner Programme.
• Not a graduate yet? Explore how the Lead with Coaching Foundation Programme can help you and your organisation thrive by developing the leadership skills needed to survive and thrive and be future-ready.

To learn more, visit www.leadwithcoaching.org

Upcoming Dates

Lead With Coaching | Foundation - In-Person & Online

Feb/March 2025: In-person 4th, 5th, 25th, 26th. Online February 12th & March 5th. Venue: TBC

Sept 2025: In-person 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th. Online 10th & 17th. Venue: TBC

Lead With Coaching | Online Only

May 2025: May 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd

Lead With Coaching | Practitioner

Oct/Nov 2024: In-person Oct 22nd, 23rd, Nov 12th, 13th. Online Nov 5th, 19th. Venue: TBC

Oct/Nov 2025: In-person Oct 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd. Online Oct 29th, Nov 5th. Venue: TBC

CLICK HERE for the full brochure, including

Programme outcomes

Focus for each module

Why develop yourself and your team as leaders and managers

Participant feedback

Meet the 'Lead With Coaching' team

 🌟 Productivity Tip:  Ensuring Clear and Timely Task Completion! 🌟 

I'm thrilled to have Therese as my virtual assistant in my coaching practice!

Here’s how we ensure clear communication around deadlines:

Be Specific 🗓️: We use exact dates and times for tasks.

Prioritise Tasks 🔝: We rank tasks by urgency, using tools like Trello.

Set Milestones 🎯: We break larger projects into smaller, manageable goals.

Communicate Clearly 💬: I share expectations and deliverables.

Regular Check-Ins 🔄: We schedule updates and adjust deadlines as needed.

Document Everything 📄: We keep a shared task outline.

Although we manage our working relationship virtually, these tips can also be helpful as you communicate with those who are shoulder to shoulder with you every single day. This approach helps us stay on track! 💪✨ #Coaching #Teamwork Connect with Therese on LinkedIn.

Action Step:  Complete the  Identify Your Saboteurs and/or VIA Strengths Finder Survey, then click the "90-Minute Strategy Session"  link to take advantage of my special offer and search my calendar for the perfect time for you.