Day 4: STOP. Collaborate & listen.

Another hat I wear "Head of Innovation & Clinical Services" for Firza Group. This was not a title I asked for nor applied for. It was given to me as a new role in a relatively small organisation. Firza Group started as a one man pharmacist band wanting to do something good and exciting in the world of pharmacy. Asim Mirza approached me years ago, asking me to join the team. I basically laughed in his face as I believed I didn't feel I could add any value. Now I owe a lot to both Asim and Stephen Foster, the Firza Execs for never giving up on me. They picked me up at a stage in my life where I felt worthless and broken beyond repair.

Firza Group felt I did amazing things and that I brought a unique outlook on designing pragmatic services that suited General Practice and the pharmacist skill base. They give me the time, showed great understanding and empathy to allow me to demonstrate what I am good at. I've been brought into Firza Group to bring in ideas, concepts and make magic happen. Basically I am a pharmacist version of Hermione Granger. A fearless geek and a do-gooder.

From doing mummy duties to being board room ready in 20 minutes. Make up technology has come a long way. I will be forever grateful for the blurring of fine lines, wrinkles and dark circles. Today involved an important meeting with a global healthcare company. A meeting of David & Goliath but more friendlier terms. A chance to possibly collaborate to do great things for the pharmacy profession. My meeting objective, listen and listen well. Our working relationships are crucial if we are to succeed and lead others to reach their hopes and dreams. The dialogue should always be dynamic, active listening is key. No one wants to feel unimportant and disengaged.

Glamorous life on the road. Mulberry & Percy Pig classic combo.

PCN is all about relationships, networking and collaboration. Transferrable skills I feel I have developed over time and with experience, especially when communications have failed. I have made mistakes in the past and hindsight is truly a wonderful tool. With each experience good or bad there is always something we can learn from them.

A quick dash change of clothes I become Mummy again. Gymnastics for Neve 17:00-18:00, football for Noel 17:30-18:30. Of course both activities are not in the same venue! Somehow this routine is do able each week. Also an opportunity to catch up with Super Mummies such as Marie Tolley. Our girls have been inseparable since their nursery years. Whilst the girls throw themselves around the gym mat. We catch up too. Marie Tolley is one amazing lady, who happens to be a Cardiac Physiologist, with paediatric cardiology experience. Marie has been working with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to develop a local fundraising team. I'm not part of the team technically but I have been helping the team to spread the word and occasionally joining in the odd 12-hour non-stop CPR event.

Super (knackered) mummies

What are friends for? 12 hours of CPR!

There some plans for a big BHF event next year, if anyone local to West Midlands would like donate something for a silent auction please get in touch with mariehancox@yahoo.co.uk

All these collaborations should be happening in PCNs too. Third party organisations. Whether they be big corporates or small organic companies. National charities or local charities. We all serve our communities. Why out learn more about each other from each other? All good conversations start with a 'Hello! My name is....'

#PCN #collaboration #charities #activelistening