Category Archives: Uncategorized

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Showing a Little Understanding

“Compassion is huge. You demonstrated today how important it is. I left the meeting feeling empowered and that someone cared about me.”

Compassion is about understanding others’ experiences and showing genuine empathy. Caring is the actions in response to that genuine understanding.

Compassionate leaders have a desire to take action to improve their teams’ circumstances. This can be achieved in the workplace through development and coaching.

Did you know that showing compassion isn’t just beneficial to the recipient? Demonstrating compassion neurologically mitigates the negative effects of stress and improves resilience. It’s a win-win!

But what happens when compassion is missing?

  • stress
  • reduced productivity
  • absenteeism
  • feeling undervalued & unappreciated

How does compassion fuel competitive advantage?

  • Collaboration by building trust and respect, people’s willingness and ability to work together for mutual benefit is increased;
  • Innovation by motivating creative ideas and by fostering the psychological safety that enables learning;
  • Adaptability by alleviating the pain caused by change and sparking passion that motivates resourceful improvements;
  • Employee engagement by helping people to feel cared about at work;
  • Recruiting and retaining talented people by increasing commitment and cultural fit;

Self Compassion

Many of us are familiar with the aircraft safety briefing “if it drops down, fit your own oxygen mask before helping others. If you can’t breathe, you’re not going to be much use to anyone else!”

It’s the same with compassion – if you’re not demonstrating compassion towards yourself, you’re less able to demonstrate it towards others.

Developing Compassion in Individuals

There is a lot of debate about whether compassion is a learned skill, or whether it is an inherent emotional response that may be developed.

There are several studies in recent years that suggest we are born with compassion. Here are a few examples:

  • Nancy Eisenburg has observed  children as young as one year old reacting to someone in distress;
  • a study at Max Planck Institute found that infants’ pupils increase in size when they see someone in need; their pupils shrink when they are able to help that person or when they see someone else help;
  • a study at University of British Columbia used a puppet to test toddlers’ ability to share; the toddlers’ happiness was rated in three different scenarios; results showed that the children were happier when they gave away a treat than when they received a treat;

That said, we need to nurture and teach our children about giving. There are so many negative experiences that can darken our perspective and turn us off from wanting to help others. Parents can guide their children to see past those discouraging experiences and to try again, and again.

We may be hard wired for compassion but it can be strengthened like a muscle.

Researchers have found that not only can adults learn to be more compassionate but teaching compassion can also result in more altruistic behaviors and actually lead to changes in the brain.

Compassionate Leadership

As leaders, how can we foster compassion in the workplace?

  • Modelling;
  • Staff Engagement;
  • Vision & Values;
  • Workload to Resource Alignment;

For me the biggest challenge is the conflict that exists between compassionate leadership and getting the job done. As a pharmacy manager/store manager, I’m not only tasked with managing people but also managing tasks, deadlines, and financial goals. It is easy to forget that accomplishing the work is not the only important factor in the workplace. Finding the right balance can be challenging!

A leader not only acts with compassion but also with care. Caring for an individual in question is important but it is also important to care for the business, care for the customers and care for other individuals.

Compassion generates a culture of well-being. It facilitates productivity and performance. Compassion is all about improvement.

“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.”  – Douglas MacArthur

There are many ways we can show compassion. I remind myself often to just listen when someone is speaking to me. Simply giving that person my full undivided attention without formulating replies in my mind or just waiting for a break in the conversation so I can interject. I also try to incorporate “thank you” into my daily routine. Unfortunately many times our thankfulness is left unspoken. These are small things but they are powerful ways to show someone you care.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Happy Holidays!

The Christmas season is a time for friends and family. As my kids get older, finding the magic of the holiday may take a little more effort, but it’s still very much there. People giving their time for charitable causes, friends and family all making a point of getting together to enjoy each other’s company. The child in all of us gets to be free for at least one morning of the year.

On behalf of Laura, myself, and our newest contributor Tammy, from the PharmAspire family to yours, have a very magical Christmas and safe holiday season! We’ll be back in the New Year with more thoughts and commentary on the profession we love, so stay tuned…




Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Pass the Egg Nog

The holiday season is here. The retail crush gets heavier and the bustle gets livelier. Dreams of moderation dash away magically like a post-Christmas Elf on the Shelf.

Working in a busy pharmacy at this time of year is a challenge. Physicians are trying to wrap up and take time off, leaving gaps in prescription continuity. After-hour clinics are busier, leading to longer waits and crankier dispositions. Many work extra to allow their colleagues a few days off with family and friends either before or after the holiday. Childcare is somewhat difficult for shift-workers when school is in recess.

So why again is it ‘the most wonderful time of the year?’

Well for me, the older I get, the more I am distracted by life. Work, hobbies, social commitments, family time, and financial obligations all become a drain on your energy (basically #adulting in general if you want to be trendy). There seems to be fewer and fewer instances during the year where you can just be. Then comes Christmas and Boxing Day. Almost everything is closed, even for just one of those days. Everyone wants to come together to share good conversation and good company. Folks are planning travel days and turkey dinners, church congregations triple in size as families honour the spirit of the season, and we grow nostalgic for the many traditions of our upbringing.

This year I have been remarkably slow in warming to the cheer. I still look forward to the Christmas Eve puzzle we put together as a group, sometimes accompanied by a tumbler of egg nog and a bowl full of cheesies and party mix. Nutcrackers make an appearance, with the resulting explosion of walnut shells scattered on the living room floor. The tree always seems to have more under it than the year before, and with another nephew arriving this past week, our clan keeps growing. Dad will have the woodstove roaring. The Ronnie Milsap Christmas album will play softly in the background, as it has since 1986 (oh, how my brother loathes it 🙂

As 2016 draws to a close, I have plenty for which to be thankful: a profession that has given me everything I have, a loving family both near and far, the best set of friends anyone could hope to have. I’m very much looking forward to just being; sitting and daydreaming with the in-laws on Christmas morning once the kids wake us up at 5:30am, and maybe catching the World Juniors starting on the 26th. We’ll attempt (key word) to divorce the kids from their iPods for a few hours in a row.

Once again, I’d be remiss to not extend a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays to Laura, who continues to share my blogging journey month in and month out. She motivates me more than she realizes, to share my thoughts and extend my horizons. Early in 2017, we hope to bring you posts on third-party insurance, some thoughts on opiate addiction, and perhaps she’ll let me do a cheap, overdone New Year’s resolution list 🙂 – (note from editor, she won’t)

From the two of us here at PharmAspire, we wish you the very best for the holiday season. Be safe, be merry, and aspire to enjoy this time of year to the fullest; take this time to hold your loved ones a little bit longer and a little bit tighter.

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Big Boys Don’t Cry

 

I  was honoured and humbled to have received the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia’s Member of the Year Award a few weekends ago and wanted to comment on my experience at the ceremony.

My speech was blended, processed, and re-hashed in my head for the 3-hour lead up to the announcement. All I knew is that I had folks to thank, but didn’t know in which order or whether I could hold it together long enough to sound coherent.

In holding it together, I’ll admit that I failed a little.

My temptation, like many others before was to make excuses as to why it was just amazing to be nominated, or there are others more deserving. A mentor shut me down early on by saying, ‘This award is for you, but it’s also for us. We are recognizing contributions to the profession that impact us all, so say thank you, and get up there’.

Neville MacKay was the presenter/emcee for the evening and what a treat! Neville is a well-known personality on TV and radio, and somehow finds the time to run My Mother’s Bloomers, a floral services shop on Spring Garden Rd. His schtick (as he refers to it) is a mixture of comedy and inspiration. He will often demonstrate beauty, diversity and teamwork by weaving in floral creations on the fly. He kept everyone light. Even in moments of solemn reflection for a lost colleague, the venerable Larry Broadfield, he found a way to honour his legacy by cheering the crowd up in his spirit.

So the mini-bio was read, and then the video started. This video was shot earlier in the summer and featured interviews with a number of my own staff as well as staff from this year’s pharmacy of the year award-winning store. I had not seen the footage until that night, and days later, I’m still spinning from the kind words that were said. I’m truly grateful for everyone with whom I’ve had the pleasure to work. It was touching and heartfelt. With a nervous tremble, I shook Neville’s hand, and that of the outgoing association president.

A little side-note about speeches. I may like to talk too much, but that’s very different from the idea of giving a speech. Thinking this was going to be akin to graduation, where you stroll across a stage, receive a certificate and fade off the other side, my preparation was minimal. At least I had the foresight to keep my wine consumption during dinner to a reasonable level.

So start with a funny anecdote, that will buy some time, right? Neville, and his limited pharmaceutical knowledge had made an earlier crack about that ‘little blue pill’. I saw that as an opportunity to jump in with my story about counseling a gentleman with a new erectile dysfunction medication whilst holding a floppy, slinky-esque novelty pen. Certainly not a shining moment. Now onto the serious stuff…

In order, I thanked my wife Diane, but only after gathering myself. Fady, the manager at the retail store next to where I’ve been working, deserved praise not only for his store’s well-deserved award for outstanding commitment to expanded scope prescribing and injection services, but for taking the time to nominate me for such a high honour. The Association executive was thanked for hosting such a wonderful event and the Association members in attendance for sharing their experiences and successes throughout the weekend. Finally, I had to acknowledge the other recipients for letting me share in their special night. I hope it meant as much to them as it did to me.

I faltered in getting the last few words out, and my voice trailed off into nothing. I slowly trundled back to my seat.

So why have I spent 700 words to recount my gala experience? Mainly because this blog has been the outlet where I can be me, and one of the main reasons how I came to be on that very stage. Being recognized by a patient, or someone close to you is an amazing feeling. When it’s a group of peers, of mentors, of leaders…it means so much. This is a thank you to all of the people who have helped and supported me through the years, inside and out of my career. You’ve shared in my highs and lows. You’ve indulged my thoughts and words in conversation and on these very pages.

I promise to keep the waterworks to a dull roar 😉

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Procrastination Factory

I’ll be honest. I’ve been putting off writing this all day.

I may sometimes question my abilities: how well I deal with HR situations, or whether my injection technique is as refined as it should be. There is no doubt of my innate ability to waste time. The majestic piles of nothing produced can be quite stunning. Particularly on weekends, when my attempts to relax often begin with mental checklists of household chores, lawn projects, and family outings we really should start attacking before the weather cools. By Saturday morning many items have been removed from the list and deferred to the “next weekend” pile. By Sunday afternoon, the list is empty with all intentions that priority items will somehow happen through the following week.

Labour modeling and analyses to complete? What better time to rip and rename my CD library into iTunes. The completed staff evaluation that still needs to be formally written? Well, level 816 of Candy Crush sure isn’t going to solve itself. The possibilities are endless, and my creative vices take charge to ensure the productive task gets arrested and thrown into a windowless room. After another 3 hours of browsing celebrity impressions on YouTube, a guilty conscience finally forces me into meaningful action.

At this moment, I realize that a preface would have been useful to explain that I do consider myself a hard-working and productive person most of the time. In fact, some of my best work has happened at crunch-time when there’s no room to dawdle. My oldest will have 2 weeks to deliver a book report, and there she is scrambling the morning of, scribbling on cue cards while she waits for the low rumble of the bus. Ah, that takes me back.

The worst part is, many of the tasks aren’t particularly challenging, or physically draining. Once I’m started, it’s usually perfectly fine. Things get done, a line gets scratched off the list, and a satisfying feeling overcomes me. Things like going to the gym are a bit different, as it’s a fight as soon as the idea pops into the head. That’s usually when the lawn gets mowed, or…

 

Okay, wait. Just hold on a minute

It’s 7:35am … I think Devin’s been trying to write this post for like 3 weeks now.   Hi, this is Diane, his lovely, non-procrastinating wife.  I am on the opposite end of the procrastinating spectrum.  So it can be a challenge trying to us to work on projects together.  I have a to-do list every single day.  If there’s a deadline, I’m usually the keener that has it done like 3 days beforehand (ok, maybe even 5 days).  I’ve  learned that if I do procrastinate, it usually stresses me out more. We currently have a membership due to be renewed in November. I know I should wait until November to renew it, but why did they send us the renewal notice already?!  Now it’s going to be on my mind ( and on my to-do list)  for 2 months….

So after 15 years of marriage, we’ve learned to compromise. When we need to get somewhere for a certain time, I have learned that Devin will always get us there right…on…time  (even though I would probably like to be there 5 minutes before). Just like Devin has learned that some small things on my to-do list are actually items for  the honey-do list. I know that after a bit of prodding, he’ll do it, just so  I can stop stressing  about it. And sometimes, like this post, I hear him say:”oh crap I really have to finish XYZ” and I hear it for a couple of times, and I mentally add to to my do-to list to remind him. Other times I’ll just go ahead and do it. I usually don’t interfere with his posts, but I couldn’t resist this one. So here it  is… Post complete! 7:55am – Oh, and laundry is in  the wash, clean dishes put away, young one off to school, older one ready to get on the bus 🙂

 

So honey, the moral of the story is that if I put something off long enough, or accidentally leave my PharmAspire edit page open unattended, it will be magically done when I get back? Got it 😉

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Dog Days

My last post was over a month ago. Wow. I could make an excuse about being lazy in the summer, or that I’m spending more time outside, but alas, I am bereft of anything plausible other than that my attention has been elsewhere lately. One such distraction has been biking in my 6th Multiple Sclerosis Bike Tour, which I hope to write a bit about in the near future.

Sunlight can be a blessing for those who work in offices lacking windows. In our case, every time the receiving door opens is an opportunity to check the weather. We all could use a nice little Vitamin D rush in the mid-afternoon, even just to daydream and recharge for the late day push. A number of years ago, a team leader spoke about the importance of natural light in the workplace, and it’s hitting home more now than ever.

This summer is happily flying along and with it, the annual summer vacation crush. Manpower/womanpower is tighter than usual and we try to keep things light by ordering the occasional Friday afternoon pizza and testing the spring & summer demo releases from an in-house Scentsy(TM) consultant (Ed. note: Weathered Leather is not the best aroma for a small office).

So amidst the daily slog, a couple of days ago I found it fitting to be asked where I thought the profession of pharmacy is headed. At a time where I’m covering two roles and am measuring my progress hour by hour to stay on top of clinical responsibilities, this question forced me to think in terms of not just where I saw myself headed in pharmacy, but our path as a collective group. On the spot, my answer was reasonably coherent and built on the theme of professional independence; pharmacists focusing on the assessment of patients instead of treatments alone, becoming more involved in collaborative practice agreements, and building on the confidence gained through prescribing for minor ailments.

Upon reflection, I’m not satisfied with my answer. Being the excessively wordy fellow I happen to be, there wasn’t enough depth in what felt like a superficial soundbite. So I decided to go back and revisit the title of my blog.

PharmAspire was developed because I wanted to write about the pharmacist I aspire to be, in hopes of relating experiences of colleagues. There are many facets to this, and it’s not just one behavior or one skill that I may acquire; it’s more about bringing myself, my personality, my individual style as it were, to the practice of pharmacy. My opportunities will be borne out of my passions (analytics, team-building, communication) and my personal growth as a leader. I’m not sure how it will look but as the tagline reminds me, I would like to practice on my own terms, and describe the journey in my own terms.

Fear not, the blog-holiday is now over. The dog days have taken their bite and it’s time for some new inspiration. September will be here before we know it. New pharmacy students starting a new school year. Flu outbreaks will be the talk early in the fall. So much to dive into…

 

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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R&R? Part 1

I really tried to resist the urge to write a post about vacation. It’s been a while since my last commentary on being in exotic places and marveling at the contrast in pharmacy services (or lack thereof) in many resort countries and cruise ports. This time around, I still have a few observations to make on that topic, but will intersperse them with more of a general narrative on trying to free the mind of real life, at least for a week or two.

This cruise was planned in celebration of a best friend’s 40th. The thinking went that the kids are getting to the ages where the term ‘family vacation’ may start to become taboo. Maybe it’s that we’re closing in on two decades in our chosen profession, or perhaps watching your generation stepping perilously close to the chasm of middle age is enough to appreciate times when you are absolved of things like responsibility, routine, and maturity. Starting in February when part of my birthday gift was an eye patch for each of the four adult travelers, our adventure on the high seas featured plenty of entertainment. Much of this was not from the on-board shows, but rather the sight of us bouncing around for a week like a pair of giddy goofballs.

Now for the uninitiated, a few observations about cruising:

  • When you’re floating in the middle of the sea, hundreds of miles from land with flat, blue horizon all around, it makes you feel extremely small and insignificant. Paradoxically, it can also be quite a claustrophobic experience; if you follow the routine during sea days, every shop, attraction, buffet, restaurant and bar resembles rows of army ants inching forward in line.
  • Walking preteens through the casino and then having to explain the difference between the slot machines and the games in the arcade upstairs is harder to do than you would think. Essentially the bright lights and colors of the machines just entice you to blow $20 in about 15 minutes and call it ‘fun’.
  • The experience is amazingly multi-cultural. Not just the ports, mind you, but the employees on all parts of the ship have name tags highlighting their native country. We decided to unfurl a world map in our stateroom and have geography lessons with our girls every time we returned from an outing. We met an attendant from Indonesia that works 8 months straight of 12-hour days, 6-days a week. He Skypes home to his young family when the ship is in port and high-speed wi-fi is available. Another one of our waiters hailing from the Philippines jumped up with the house band and performed an admirable rendition of Celine Dion’s ‘Because You Loved Me’.
  • There is this thing called the unlimited drink package. On first blush, it seems to be quite popular for mysterious reasons….hmmmm. Ah, those bars. Perfectly distanced so that you’re never more than 30 paces from a restroom, accessible from the inside and outer deck of the ship, and each seemingly equipped with their own gravity; drawing you close to peruse their unique menu of concoctions.

In part 2, I’ll have some pictures to share and thoughts on pharmacy overseas mixed in with other random observations.

Vacation is always welcome, but it’s good to be back!

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Difficult Conversations

That feeling is back.

There in the pit of your stomach, a queasy, uneven terror takes hold. Even the butterflies are frozen in fear. The thought of confrontation can be a paralytic.

This is not just applicable to the pharmacy world of course. A verbal attack, incident of negligence, or general poor attitude can evoke strong reactions from you, other family members, friends or colleagues. Really, any undesirable behavior(s) that affect others may be lost on an individual if they’re not told about it, or asked to reconsider their actions. So how do you toe the line between a proper response and a potential overreaction? A long-time patient violates your trust and is caught shoplifting. A medication incident occurs and you’re cradling the phone receiver to notify a physician that hasn’t always been the most supportive. Say you back into a friend’s car in the driveway after they left it for a weekend away. Perhaps you suspect a family member has a substance abuse problem and you worry about their mental health.

Regular readers may find that I tend to internalize and reflect often. In fact, most of the words I write are borne from some direct or arms-length experience. As a team leader, it’s taken a lot of work to hold back a raw emotional reaction when it festers. If something or someone offends you, it’s important to remember a few things when a potential confrontation occurs:

  • You are entitled to your reaction – Regardless of another’s intent, or their choice of wording, it may offend, insult, surprise, demoralize, etc. and they can’t control your feelings or the reasons why. They are valid and shouldn’t be dismissed. I will sometimes write draft pieces that have a strong topic or controversial nature and I may not realize it. During the editing phase, it’s brought to my attention that for instance, my perspective on technician regulation has been coloured by my growth opportunities in a long-term care setting. It’s something I really hadn’t considered and was thankful that it was pointed out.
  • The earlier the better – Out of the scenarios above, all require a response of some sort. As mentioned, my approach is to internalize and review all possible scenarios, but if I wait too long with a planned response, there’s a chance not only for the behavior or issue to arise again, but it’s also perceived as permissible by onlookers who may become disillusioned.
  • It’s emotionally exhausting, but worth it – Why are these conversations so difficult? If you hold trust and respect for someone, attempting to single out a flaw of some kind without it feeling like an attack is somewhat of an art. I have close friends who are much more adept at meeting with individuals and getting thanked for providing constructive criticism. Almost every difficult meeting I have, I’m usually needing to own up for my own slights or behaviors that have contributed to the situation. See above: they are also entitled to their reaction to something I’ve done or said. Being vulnerable around close family and friends is hard enough, around acquaintances and other professionals is another thing entirely. It’s no surprise that these meetings often happen at the end of the shift, or day, or week even to allow time to wind down.

If you genuinely care, if you are trying to help someone, let that be the basis for an interaction. If the person respects you and your opinion, they often recognize that they have put you in a position to respond. Offering alternatives for moving forward makes the conversation productive while acknowledging past missteps.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but perhaps we can turn that difficult conversation around into something positive with a clear path forward. We can’t guarantee foresight will be 20/20, but how close can we get?

 

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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An Anniversary

March 28 holds a special meaning for me. It’s early spring and summer vacation planning needs to be in over the next week. My two siblings have birthdays coming up, so that’s always good for a pair of celebrations. From a pharmacy standpoint, in Nova Scotia the government drug benefit plan resets on April 1st, so cue the shock and awe from patients once again having co-pays on their prescriptions.

The special meaning for that date is really derived from my choice to start this blog. Three years ago, I jumped into these waters expecting very little. Inspiration was the title and summed up my feelings at the time. They have not changed and hope they never will. Laura has been editing my posts from day one and does an excellent job in keeping me on point when I offer too many platitudes. Thank you to all readers, wherever you may be; your kind words of encouragement and acceptance of my often rambling consciousness has a profound impact on this soul of mine. So much so, that challenges never feel as challenging, and spinning chaos in a positive light has a definite healing effect. I’m looking forward to what’s in store for year number four.

As long as we harbor aspirations of betterment, personally and professionally, there will always be stories to tell, and topics worth writing about.

 

 

http://pharmaspire.ca

dcovey@pharmaspire.ca

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.