Explore the sources of pressure on teams, both internal and external
Be aware of the consequences of unchecked pressure in teams
Help draw up a simple framework that will give you the best chance of maintaining a productive and committed team
Develop skills in conflict resolution, enabling you to tackle any potential team problems head-on in a professional and calm manner.
Life in the pharmacy can be relentless. Dispensing medicines and providing services against a backdrop of severe funding constraints and staffing issues has led to even greater pressure on pharmacy teams. And as more go out of business, the workload only grows more intense for those who remain.
It’s a situation tailor made for low morale (and its toxic consequences) to thrive. Let’s start by considering the sources of pressure in teams. It can come from within (instrinsic pressure) or from outside (extrinsic pressure). Some typical examples are:
Intrinsic sources
Conflict between team members
A sense that not everyone is pulling their weight equally
Lack of clarity about job roles or direction
Lack of co-operation, communication or knowledge sharing
Poorly organised workflows or environment.
Extrinsic sources
Increased demands without adequate resources or planning of those resources
Reduced income creating internal cost pressures
Customer and stakeholder requirements
Increased competition
Rising demand for clinical services, some of which carry monthly targets e.g. Pharmacy First.
You may have other pressures and potential pressures on your list, but the takeaway point here is that there will always be multiple intrinsic and extrinsic reasons why pressure may build up in your team. So how do you deal with this situation in a professional and considered manner? Let’s begin by looking at one of the saddest consequences of unmanaged and unchecked pressure – low employee morale.
