A ‘vision’ sounds a grand term. It’s something that international conglomerates have – why do I need one? A vision helps you understand where you’re going. Not only does it help you plan for the future, it is a way of bringing a team through difficult times and a way of describing to the team what your picture of the future is like.

Unless we know where we’re going in life we just drift. If we continue to drift as pharmacists, owners, managers and as individuals, our profession as a whole will struggle. “If you don't know where you’re going you will always get there, but it may never be the right place”.

One of the simplest ways of starting a vision is simply by answering some questions. It is as important to understand what you don’t want, as well as what you do want to have. There is a common phrase that “if you’re not growing you’re dying.”

This is related to both coaches in football teams, but also to nature. It will probably be important to include growth in the vision, and then if you can remove, adapt, or change the things that are bugging you and your staff, then going forward it will enable you to do the things you like.

A good vision describes the desired future state so that you can see where you are going. It is important that it’s not overwhelming, that it is simple, that everybody knows it and is guided by it and that it collects people’s passion. It should contain the perspectives of your customers, your staff, your local stakeholders (GPs, public health, your bosses or shareholders) and, most importantly, leadership.