Doug’s Leadership Lessons

Blogs

• 12/16/2024

  Doug’s leadership code: mistakes = opportunities

  People make mistakes. For years I made the mistake of having as one of my leadership mantras: "strive for perfection and even if you fail to be perfect, you’ll still get great results.” Thankfully, a few years later, I did away with that expression/expectation. And what made me stop?
• 11/18/2024

  Doug’s Leadership Code–the importance of eagles who fly in formation

  I’m not sure when, or where, or from whom I stole the phrase “eagles who fly in formation.” But, as a teenager, I certainly learned the foundation of successful leadership as a Little League coach and then running restaurants and leading independent retail pharmacies.
• 10/28/2024

  What's the secret pharmacy code?

  Having leadership guidelines – like a road map – remember road maps, pre-GPS? – ensures your team knows your expectations and those of your store or the organization which you lead or where you work. I call this my – but ultimately the team’s – Leadership Code.
• 9/23/2024

  Introducing my 9 Fs of leadership

  The days of ‘Command and Control’ – ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ – are long gone, and thankfully so. You don’t have to be the CEO to influence the culture of your organization or store. Everyone plays a part in the establishment of the work culture; the CEO simply sets the tone and encourages similar behaviours from every team member.
• 9/3/2024

  My top 3 leadership lessons to get started

  Full disclosure: I am not now, nor was I ever, a pharmacist. But as they say: ‘some of my best friends are pharmacists’ and I sure got to know hundreds—thousands?—of pharmacists and their teams over my 27 years in pharmacy. I was proud and privileged to be entrusted with the leadership of an independent community retail pharmacy brand.