The New Year is quickly approaching, which means it’s time to start looking forward to what your business can achieve in 2016.
Your pharmacy could be working toward increasing the number of patients you serve, lowering your average fill time for prescriptions, or expanding your front-end product selection.
No matter what you want to achieve, increase your chances of obtaining your goals for 2016 with a few adjustments.
Here are six tips for achieving your pharmacy’s goals.
1. Begin with achievable goals
Set goals that you will reasonably be able to achieve in 2016. If your goals are too lofty, or even unattainable, you and your pharmacy’s staff may become discouraged.
For example, a 35 percent increase in number of prescriptions filled might be unrealistic, so instead, try adjusting your goal to increase your number of scripts by 5 or 10 percent.
2. Change your mindset
Adjust your mindset to make your goal, whether that’s to get new patients or improve adherence rates, the center of all of your actions. Start thinking of your daily responsibilities, such as placing orders or filling prescriptions, as small steps toward your greater goal.
Train your staff to look at their duties through the lens of your larger goals, too. Doing so can provide a greater sense of purpose in their work and help them feel like a part of the team.
3. Incorporate accountability
Measure your progress toward your goal by incorporating accountability into your pharmacy’s weekly or monthly processes.
For example, if your goal in 2016 is to increase the average of total prescriptions you fill each month, measure the number you fill each week to see how your total prescription count is trending.
Measuring your progress toward your goals enables you to see how you’re improving as you go. Seeing the numbers will encourage you and your staff to work even harder to achieve your goal.
4. Focus on growth
To achieve your goals, it’s important that you stay focused on growth.
Your goals should reflect this growth mindset. For example, instead of making a goal to not lose any patients, make a goal to gain 20 patients in 2016.
Goals focused on maintaining the status quo don’t motivate people, and they’re not productively advancing your business.
5. Be positive
Cultivate a positive mindset in your pharmacy to help you achieve your goals.
Positive thoughts and language can go a long way in helping your employees believe that you can—and will—achieve your goals.
Plus, positive thinking can help you push through challenges that may arise.
6. Use successful tactics
Incorporate practices, techniques or tools that have worked for other pharmacies into your business to help you achieve your goals.
For example, if you’re looking to improve your patients’ adherence rates, use tactics, such as an appointment-based model of synchronization, to help increase adherence and achieve your goal.
Research the best practices used in other independent community pharmacies to find strategies that can help you no matter what your goal is.
Check out these tips for setting pharmacy goals, and get inspiration for your goals for 2016.
