Ah, games. Games can be fun, but they can also be frustrating. They can be frustrating when you do not know the rules.

This is the magic of the rubber band. It only works when it is stretched! Its real value is realized when it is stretched. And you know what? The same is true for you and me. We provide more value and we become more valuable when we are stretched, just like a rubber band!

So far, during my pharmacy career, I have had the privilege and honour to work in about 30 different pharmacies, visit hundreds more, and speak with thousands of pharmacists at various meetings and conferences. One thing I often run into is a resistance to change.

What can we learn about leadership with handwashing, especially in challenging times? There is a very important principle that we must be sure not to overlook. It goes something like this: when you use your right hand to wash your left hand, your right hand gets clean in the process.

As the pandemic began in the spring of 2020, there were many pharmacies facing adversity. To some it was increased volume, while others faced decreased volume. Some faced staffing challenges.

Leadership is a big topic in most situations, but then throw in some uncertain times, like a pandemic, and there are a couple lessons to learn.

Your most valuable asset is your TEAM! In my career, I have dispensed in over two dozen pharmacies. As such, I have had the privilege of working with many different teams. I can tell you that I did not always look at my team as an asset. In some cases, I actually looked at my team as a liability.

Perhaps your experience since the beginning of the pandemic has you thinking that the grass may be greener somewhere else. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.

Today, I want to tune your radar to the forbidden phrase of leadership. As leaders, we must be on guard against this phrase and if we hear it, we must take swift action.

Things don’t just happen; things happen just. This is the principle of intentionality. We must be intentional with the people we lead because things don’t just happen.