The transition from student to new practitioner can be a challenging one. Along with some of the harsher realities of life—and by this I mean student loan bills—becoming a new practitioner often means starting all over again at the bottom of the heap. Despite an impending gap in pharmacy leadership, limited opportunities exist for new practitioners, which may be especially disheartening after being charged at graduation to embark on a professional journey of advancing pharmacy practice.

 

Sensing this disillusioned feeling that has led many to abandon their professional pursuits, a number of organizations have launched initiatives designed to empower new practitioners with the skills necessary to advance themselves and the profession. Although traditional opportunities may still be limited, there is no better training ground for learning to lead without a title than the new practitioner experience. As I enter my 5th year of professional practice, here are a few of the lessons I have learned along the way.

 

In their book, Strengths-Based Leadership, Tom Rath and Barry Conchie describe a study showing that individuals who understood themselves were not only more successful after 25 years of follow-up but were also happier and had fewer health problems. Past research has shown that many who rise to the top of an organization start by understanding themselves first, including their strengths and weaknesses, motivations, values, and how all of these things shape their long-term goals. In other words, before learning to lead others, one must first learn to lead oneself.

 

Multitasking was once considered the only way to survive in today’s increasingly digital society. However, research shows that multitasking actually impairs productivity. For example, those who consider themselves most effective at multitasking are actually the worst at it, as are those who do it most often. A feature common to many emerging leaders is that they make time for self-reflection, disconnecting from many of life’s distractions in order to focus on the future. 

Another idea that many emerging leaders espouse is that one should forget the notion of work–life balance. As Eric Sinoway writes in Howard’s Gift, a book about the late Howard Stevenson, founder of the entrepreneurship program at Harvard, one should learn to prioritize among seven different lives (family, social, spiritual, physical, material, avocational, and career). He contended that the concept of work-life balance was too simple for the evolving demands of life and the need to periodically refocus one’s priorities.

 

In the fall of 2012, Alex Sheen launched “because I said I would,” a charitable organization founded on the principle of keeping one’s promises. The message has certainly resonated, as Sheen’s initiative has reached individuals in all 50 states in the United States and more than 80 countries worldwide in just over a year. Similarly, emerging leaders are recognized for their commitment to the organization, modeling the attitudes and behaviors they desire from the people around them. Often this means doing what others will not, thereby easing the burden of the positional leaders above them.

 

Few statistics provide greater evidence of our desire to be connected with one another than the growth of social media. As of last year, over half of Americans had created a profile on at least one social networking website. While the impact of social media is undeniable, emerging leaders recognize that true followership is more than just the number listed on one’s Twitter profile. Instead, it means developing meaningful connections with others through collaboration, recognition of their contributions to the organization, and empowerment with the tools to succeed. Equally important for growth is finding a mentor to help navigate the challenges of the new practitioner experience.

 

Most would agree that their first few years as a new practitioner were some of the most difficult in their professional career. After 2 years of residency, 2 years of full-time practice, 6 months as a new faculty member, and having moved three times in the past 5 years, I can certainly say the same. However, like many others, I would not trade these experiences for anything because they have only prepared me for what’s to come.