People | The Transformative Power of Leadership on Pharmacy Practice: From Poor to Positive

The Transformative Power of Leadership on Pharmacy Practice: From Poor to Positive

Introduction: Leadership in pharmacy practice carries profound consequences. It shapes the work environment, influences patient care, and ultimately defines the success of a pharmacy. This article delves into the evidence-based impacts of leadership, the challenges in recognising sub-par leadership practices, and how a self-assessment tool like 4Front's "6Ps of Professional Excellence Self-Assessment" can make a difference. We'll also explore how Positive Intelligence (PQ), Red Team Coaching (RTC), and ICF coaching empower leaders to foster positive and sustainable change.

The Impact of Leadership on Pharmacy Practice: Leadership in pharmacy can fall anywhere on a spectrum from poor to mediocre to positive. Evidence suggests that these leadership styles have distinct impacts:

Poor Leadership:  Studies reveal that poor leadership leads to high staff turnover, low morale, and increased stress among team members. This directly affects patient care, as stressed and disengaged employees are more likely to make errors.

Mediocre Leadership may maintain the status quo but fails to inspire excellence. Patient outcomes and staff engagement remain stagnant.

Positive leadership, on the other hand, is associated with higher patient satisfaction, lower medication errors, and improved team morale. A positive work culture fosters innovation, collaboration, and high-performance pharmacy practice.

Challenges in Recognising Sub-Par Leadership: Identifying poor or mediocre leadership can be challenging due to factors like a lack of self-awareness, hidden workplace dynamics, and a resistance to change.

How Self-Assessment Tools Can Help: Self-assessment tools like 4Front's "6Ps of Professional Excellence Self-Assessment" offer a structured framework for leaders to evaluate their leadership against key pillars. It helps leaders recognise areas of strength and areas for improvement, fostering self-awareness and promoting a growth mindset.

The Role of Healthcare Leadership Coaching:

Positive Intelligence (PQ) Coaching equips leaders with emotional intelligence, resilience, and a growth mindset. It enables them to recognise and overcome internal saboteurs, reducing stress and fostering positive leadership behaviour.

Red Team Coaching (RTC): enhances leaders' critical thinking, scenario planning, and strategic decision-making. Leaders become more adaptable and adept at anticipating and mitigating risks.

ICF Coaching, especially team coaching, enhances leadership within teams, promoting collaboration and aligning members toward shared goals. It improves communication, trust, and accountability.

Combining Self-Assessment with Coaching: The real power lies in combining self-assessment with coaching. Leaders armed with insights from self-assessment can work with a coach to develop and implement meaningful action plans for positive change. Coaching provides the guidance and accountability needed to translate self-awareness into concrete behavioural changes.

Conclusion: The evidence is clear: leadership matters in pharmacy practice. Poor leadership can have detrimental consequences, while positive leadership can transform pharmacy practice into a hub of excellence. Recognising sub-par leadership can be challenging, but self-assessment tools like 4Front's provide a starting point.

However, it's the combination of self-assessment with coaching, particularly PQ, RTC, and ICF coaching, that empowers leaders to make measurable, healthy, and sustainable changes. This integrated approach fosters positive leadership behaviours, reduces stress, enhances decision-making, and ultimately creates a thriving, high-performing pharmacy practice that benefits both patients and the pharmacy team. It's a journey from poor to positive that's worth embarking on for the betterment of healthcare.