If you’re ready to start innovating in your pharmacy, the first step is to start thinking like an innovator.
To get yourself into an innovative mindset, begin by adopting the habits of innovative thinkers. When you start practicing the same behaviors and tactics as innovators, you’ll find that it’s easier to come up with—and implement—ideas that take your business to the next level.
Here are eight strategies of innovative thinkers. Use these tactics to become a pharmacy innovator.
1. Persistence
When the going gets tough, the innovative keep going. Persistence in the face of adversity is a key characteristic of innovative thinkers.
When innovating, you’re bound to face a variety of challenges, such as lack of motivation or a preference for the old way of doing things. Being persistent, and continuing to work toward implementing innovative ideas, is key if you want to make innovative changes.
2. Ignoring inhibitions
The most innovative thinkers work to actively overcome any inhibitions or fears they may have.
Overcoming inhibitions enables you to think outside of the box. When you’re not restricted by fears, worries or concerns about what other people think, you’ll be free to reimagine the way your pharmacy operates, the way you approach services, and how you recruit new patients.
3. Taking risks
Innovative thinkers aren’t afraid to take risks. Instead, they thrive on it.
Whether they’re trying to open a new location or starting a new service, innovation and change always come with a risk. To be an innovative thinker, you have to be comfortable taking risks, evaluating risks and weighing a risk against the potential for reward.
4. Not fearing mistakes
When you’re trying new innovative products and services, there are bound to be some mistakes, and the best innovators don’t fear those errors.
Mistakes are a chance to learn. When something goes wrong, bounce back by identifying the problem and making a plan to avoid that mistake the next time.
5. Getting out of the store
To be innovative and creative, you need to get inspired. Innovative thinkers know that some of the best ideas come from outside of their business.
Go to a museum, tour other retail stores or spend an afternoon in nature to get inspiration. Getting out of your pharmacy can spur innovation and help you problem solve when you hit a roadblock.
6. Taking notes
Taking detailed notes is another habit of successful innovative thinkers.
Whether they’re at a conference listening to expert speakers or in a brainstorming meeting with employees, innovative thinkers always take notes. You never know when you’re going to need to refer back to them, so be sure to carry a pen and paper wherever you go.
7. Being curious
Innovative thinkers always try to stay curious about their business, the industry and their competition.
To innovate, it’s important to wonder and be curious about everything. Asking yourself “what if” questions and being curious about the latest pharmacy products and services can help you stay ahead of the competition, and keep up with the latest industry trends.
8. Seeking out experts
Relying on expert opinions, advice and knowledge helps innovative thinkers come up with new ideas and improve their original concepts.
Innovative thinkers seek out experts to ask advice, and learn from them. Gain knowledge from experts by attending continuing education (CE) sessions at conferences, networking with other pharmacy professionals or subscribing to an industry publication.
Follow our series!
Stay up-to-date with our series on innovation. Each installment discusses a different aspect of innovation, including the need for it and the challenges you might face when trying to innovate at your pharmacy.
Pharmacy Innovation Part 1: Why It’s Important to Innovate
Pharmacy Innovation Part 2: Challenges of Innovation
Pharmacy Innovation Part 3: Innovative Ideas for Your Pharmacy
Pharmacy Innovation Part 4: Habits of Innovative Thinkers
