Running a successful pharmacy is reliant on more than just having a strong business plan and vision, or being in a location with a large customer base. It requires strong leadership skills combined with the ability to inspire and motivate people.

An absence of leadership can ultimately affect business performance, and stems from missed opportunities, frustrated employees and unhappy customers.

Sometimes a pharmacist may feel that they are not ‘leadership material’, but leadership is not a personality type; it is about behaviour and an observable set of skills and abilities. Of course it’s no surprise that, as a profession, pharmacists are often risk averse; they are trained not to make mistakes.

Being a leader can take courage and involves taking risks by placing trust in others, which could potentially lead to errors. However, we all learn by making mistakes and honing your leadership skills can be an important step in becoming a more successful pharmacy owner.