Stepping into a different role is not straightforward. Actors need to prepare to take on a new role. You will need to prepare to take on the role of being your own area manager.

You need to approach your pharmacy with a different mindset. If you don’t, you will not achieve the new perspective you are looking to obtain.

There are three fundamental elements that will help you to fulfil this role. The first is to set aside some time to play this role. You cannot fit this into quiet moments when you are trying to do your normal job. You need to adopt a different mindset and you cannot occupy the two roles at once and be effective.

Research from many institutions, including Harvard University, have demonstrated that multitasking is not possible; when people try to multitask they take longer and are less effective. 

You might be able to create this headspace by engaging a locum for half a day as time that you devote to leadership. Tell your staff what you intend to do and that you are not to be interrupted by operation or management issues for this period.

Secondly, set some standards before you review your pharmacy as an area manager. How will you know if something is not right if you do not know what ‘right’ looks like? It is good to be open minded but if you are too open minded your brain will fall out!

The audit process always starts with setting standards. I won’t be able to define standards for you but I hope to ask enough questions to help you define your own.

Thirdly, follow a logical process. A good model is to follow the journey of a patient. I will try to suggest a process throughout the rest of this article, however if this does not suit you, develop a process that makes sense to you.