3 Ways Pharmacy Managers Kill Morale
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
Confucius was a smart man! If you truly do love your job, then work isn’t work at all. The only problem with this quote is that few people actually love their job!
In fact, the majority of the American workforce has a low level of engagement. Up to 70% of U.S. workers are disengaged at work – costing roughly $500 billion (yes billion) each year in lost productivity.
What was the biggest reason for this low level of engagement? You guessed it, management!
So how can you turn morale around in your pharmacy and become a better manager and leader? It starts by avoiding these three pharmacy morale killers:
Thinking your “title” makes you a leader.
A title doesn’t instantly make you a leader. It may provide a certain level of authority, but if you truly want to have a positive impact on your staff and the pharmacy, you need to earn trust and respect. The most effective leaders spend roughly 70% of their time building strong working relationships with their team to earn their trust and dedication. Take time to get to know your staff on a more personal level. Learn what motivates them. Show them you are human and an open communicator. Listen to their needs and clearly explain your needs as well.
Not making time.
The number one complaint workers have about their manager is a lack of face time. While your priorities may make it difficult to be hands-on with your staff all the time, you also need to ensure you balance your time appropriately. Plan out each day, making sure to dedicate 20% of your time to closely work with your staff. Not only will you improve your one-to-one working relationship, but their engagement levels will soar.
Always needing to be right.
Don’t take this the wrong way, but sometimes you’re wrong! We are all people, and we all make mistakes. Don’t be afraid to admit it! Admitting that you’re wrong and taking the right steps to fix it can be an amazing way to build trust with your team. Also, be open to constructive criticism. Just because you do things one way, doesn’t mean that it’s the only way. A good leader doesn’t tell their staff exactly how to do things. They explain the goal, provide guidance and insight, and trust their team to accomplish things efficiently.
Bonus tip: Don’t hire the wrong people.
One of the biggest morale killers in any setting (especially a pharmacy) is hiring the wrong people. Before making a hiring decision, be sure that the person you bring on is a good cultural fit with the rest of your team.
Rx relief, is one of the top recruiting firms for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. By focusing solely on pharmacy recruiting, we have a keen understanding of the pharmacy work dynamic. We understand what personality traits work well together, and which don’t. We use a wide range of screening and behavioral assessments to ensure the staff we provide is a strong fit for your facility. Contact us today to learn more.
