I am a Leadership Performance coach who went to Pharmacy School.  Not surprisingly, to those who know me, is that my fascination with HOW drugs work has carried over into my coaching practice… in terms of HOW Leadership Works!

Yes! In the Pharmacy world, there is what we call a “mechanism of action.”  Different drugs in the same category have variable effects.  And Leaders with different styles, approaches and language have variable effects too.

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When a drug enters your body, it moves through it based on certain characteristics.  The term used here is that it has a certain Pharmaco-Kinetic or PK profile for short.  Well, the same is true for leadership.  Leaders, when they enter your life, will move through it with certain characteristics.  In my own leadership practice I try to use PK principles as a reminder for PATIENCE and KINDNESS.  This is how I would like to move through the lives of others as a Leader!  I, like many leaders, have work to do here! I am lucky to have a great coach and life partner who role models this for me every day!  I hope you are lucky enough to either have similar role models in your life or be the role model for others!

Now drugs also have different ways they enter our body.  The most common of course is by mouth, or what we call in the Pharmacy world “PO”.  In the leadership world most communication is through the power of our words so our “by mouth” approach is critically important to use as a TOOL and not a WEAPON.  In my own leadership practice I try to use PO as a reminder for POSITIVITY and OPTIMISM.  As leaders, we need to see the possibilities of what can be and inspire others through our WORDS and ACTIONS to achieve what they may not yet believe is possible!  Having a positive and optimistic outlook is energizing and encouraging in a world of risks, changes and challenges! It is what we need most from our leaders.

As you reflect and consider the new year ahead, take a moment to intentionally create your leadership “mechanism of action” and give a nod to your PK profile and your PO approach!