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7 Habits of Highly Effective Pharmacist
7 Habits of a Highly Effective Pharmacist
We all want to succeed.
And one path to success is identifying the habits that can help us on our journey.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey is a self-improvement book.
In this article, 7 Habits of Highly Effective Pharmacists illustrated…
It is written on Covey’s belief that the way we see the world is entirely based on our perceptions.
To change a given situation, we must change ourselves; to change ourselves; we must be able to change our perceptions.
Earlier, the foundation of success rested upon character ethics (integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience, industry, simplicity, modesty, and the Golden Rule).
But starting around the 1920s, the way people viewed success shifted to “personality ethic” (where success is a function of personality, public image, attitudes and behaviours).
These days, people look for quick fixes.
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They see a successful person, team, or organisation and ask, “How do you do it? Teach me your techniques!”
But these “shortcuts” we look for, hoping to save time and effort and still achieve the desired result, are simply band-aids.
It will yield short-term solutions; they don’t address the underlying condition.
“The way we see the problem is the problem,” Covey writes.
We must allow ourselves to undergo paradigm shifts to change ourselves fundamentally and not just alter our attitudes and behaviours on the surface level to achieve actual change.
That’s where this book comes in. It is beneficial for those who work in healthcare- especially pharmacists.
If you want to do more than just “clock in” and go through the motions, make an impact in the work you do for the patients you serve.
You will find exceptional value in the principles you are about to read about.
The 7 Habits of a Highly Effective Pharmacist
1- Habit 1 💊
2- Habit 2 💊
3- Habit 3 💊
4- Habit 4 💊
5- Habit 5 💊
6- Habit 6 💊
7- Habit 7 💊
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Habit 1 of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Pharmacists.
The one thing you can count on with absolute certainty is that you cannot control anything.
Unforeseeable events, be they good or bad, WILL happen and are an inevitable part of life.
However, the thing that you CAN control in every situation is HOW you react to your environment and the circumstances.
That is, choosing how you react to those events rather than just reacting without conscious choice or a plan of action.
That will make a difference in the outcome due to the unforeseen events you encounter.
To that end, playing the victim will do nothing but hurt you.
You may get sympathy from others, but aside from that, all that course of action will do to serve you is to stay stuck in the past and wallow in your grief.
The first step to overcoming this trap is to accept responsibility and recognise that you are NOT a victim of your circumstances.
Whatever happened to you may have been unfortunate or even “unlucky”, but you MUST eliminate excuses and take action to move past this and on with your life.
Habit 2: Backwards Begin
Habit 2 of 7 Habits of Highly Effective Pharmacists. That is, begin with the end in mind.
Rather than starting with your focus on the starting point, shift your energy ahead to your end goal.
What are you looking to achieve?
The most successful look at their endeavours with an opportunity mindset, in that everything happens twice: once in your mind and twice in reality.
You can use this tactic by having a particular and definite goal for what you want so that you can plan for it.
Try to see the end goal in mind; you can backtrack to what steps you will need to take to make that happen.
So the question can be posed for you:
What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind for pharmacy?
Do you want to be remembered as the two/man who clocks in? Or do you want to leave behind something more profound?
What actions are you taking NOW to make that legacy a tangible reality for you?
Habit 3: First is First
Habit 3 of 7 Habits of Highly Effective Pharmacists.
With all that we have to do as pharmacists, heads of our household, and just people, it can be easy to feel lost and suffocated with lists upon lists of things that need to be done.
But don’t lose focus on where the starting line is: you do what comes first, which is as simple as that.
The key to effectively prioritising your job is to do the most important and urgent tasks FIRST.
After that, tackle the tasks that are important but not urgent.
Third, go after what is not essential but urgent.
Finally, avoid spending time with unimportant or urgent things- there is no time to waste!
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Habit 4 of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Pharmacist
Rather than focusing on “how can I win”, not caring about other people involved in the venture/sale, look for the solution.
This solution where EVERYBODY wins- often, this option exists more than you would think, and who wouldn’t want an answer like that?
Not only does this make sense as something all parties involved would agree on.
On the other hand, it helps YOU more in the long run because it won’t leave others to feel slighted as losing, but instead as members of the winning team.
In addition, another way to look at it is to reframe your mindset around “winning” the conversation as a competition against others’ opinions.
It’s not “I win, you lose”, but looking for the option where both sides (depending on how many people are involved) win the outcome.
On the other hand, if no solution or decision is beneficial to all people involved, eliminate that choice as a viable option.
Finally, It may seem like an easy win now in the short term, but never sacrifice long-term success for short-term gain.
Habit 5: Understanding
Habit 5 of 7 Habits of Highly Effective Pharmacist
If you put the other person’s needs before your own, you will be much more successful in your conversations and negotiations.
Your primary goal in resolving conflict should be first to understand, then to be understood.
You are better off validating the other person’s concerns BEFORE you entertain your own.
This is one of the primary traits defining a good leader: you must listen before being listened to.
If you genuinely care about and empathise with the person/people you are interacting with.
You will find much more resolution and enthusiasm around the topic at hand rather than you had approached with the opposite technique.
This is because, as humans, when we deeply understand each other, it creates creative solutions.
Habit 6: Synergize
Habit 6 of 7 Habits of Highly Effective Pharmacist
Have you ever heard the phrase “two heads are better than one?”
It may be cliche and make your eyes roll, but the phrase is still around because it holds its weight in the truth that it bears.
If you take one person with tremendous skills and drive and another with exceptional talent and connections 100% of the time, both skill sets are not identical.
That means that if both are working together towards the same goal, they will combine their strengths which will likely fill any gaps and supplement each other such that they are a force to be reckoned with.
In another way, the two boards’ strength is much greater than the summation of their different powers.
That is, 1 + 1 does not simply equal 2, but rather, 1 + 1 = 3.
The take-home message from this? Always seek to work in harmony with others – collaboration is key to success.
There is not one highly successful person in history who made it on his own.
There were mentors, partners, and even competitors that drove them to deliver even more than they ever thought initially possible.
Sometimes working with others can be intimidating, as the other person brings a robust skill set you lack.
While this may be humbling, do not be intimidated by some else’s strengths.
Seek to instead learn from their wisdom as a mentor and guide.
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Habit 7: Sharpen Your Saw
Habit 7 of 7 Habits of a Highly Effective Pharmacist
Saw being a metaphor for whatever tool or skillset you are seeking to master.
Firstly, if you do not fully commit to being a lifelong learner, you will be left behind by those who do adopt this essential practice.
This is not a one-dimensional approach- you must aim to constantly improve your physical, spiritual, mental, and relational health.
By fully committing to this endeavour, you will guarantee that you will consistently progress upward toward a path of success that will lead you to become a highly successful individual.
Finally, there is a reason that continuing education is a legal requirement among pharmacists.
You must stay up to date on the latest medications and health guidelines so that we can deliver the best possible care and consultations to our patients.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, to change a given situation, we must change ourselves, and to change ourselves, we must be able to change our perceptions.
Finally, this article is for those looking to do more than just “clock in” and go through the motions, but make an impact in the work you do for the patients you serve.
Relate Recommended Reading:
- Register Now inFADIC 2021 Daily Pharmacy E-News (FNN)
- You can download the List of Medications with Black Box Warning
- Buy Now the FADIC Drug Information Flash E-Cards
- Download FADIC Clinical Pharmacology Cards Quick Guide
- Visit FADIC CPD Accredited Courses, Mini-Courses, Workshops and Schools
- Visit FADIC Nutritional Centre | Minerals and Vitamins
