Build a Culture That Enables a ‘Yes’ Mindset in Pharma

A ‘yes’ mindset in pharma—that statement alone has the potential to raise eyebrows or make people smirk. Having spent over two decades in the sector, I have lost count of times when projects were turned down or under-resourced, sometimes under the pretense of compliance. But at its core, it is the fear of failure that results in projects not going ahead. However, times have changed, and many leaders and teams are already successfully embracing the ‘Yes mindset’, to the benefit of patient and HCP communities.

A 'Yes' mindset in innovation is an approach that embraces possibilities, fosters creativity, and encourages proactive problem-solving. It’s about saying “yes” to new ideas and exploring the potential for each.

Fundamentally, the key is figuring out what needs to be true for an idea or innovation to succeed, rather than defaulting to reasons why it cannot happen, or why it might fail. Here are characteristics of a 'Yes' mindset in innovation.

Open to new ideas and different points of view

A 'Yes' mindset starts with openness to new and diverse ideas. It involves actively listening to and considering suggestions from everyone in a team or organisation, regardless of their hierarchical level or expertise. This openness creates a culture where people feel valued and motivated to continuously share their thoughts.

Solve problems

Instead of focusing on the limitations of an idea and pre-empting potential reasons why it might not be possible, the question to ask is: What needs to be true for this to work? The focus then shifts to making it happen by enabling people and removing barriers.

Encourage risk-taking

Innovation, by definition, will take you away from the well-treated paths. There won’t be guidance, or any best practices, that can be followed. Experimentation will be required, and failure will happen. It is essential to be comfortable with the fact that things may not work out at first, and to collect and analyse the learnings that can be leveraged for the next iteration.

Simplify processes

Processes and bureaucracy can get in the way of innovation and creativity. Processes need to be streamlined to maintain simplicity, and allow flexibility and speed of iteration. In essence, low-value tasks need to be eliminated from the workload. (And there’s AI for that!)

Collaborate

Patients and HCPs do not see a function, a role, or a seniority level. They see the output delivered by the Company. Doing something new – and key to delivering transformation - might require new skills, new data, maybe new people, a large network, and a collaborative individual. By leveraging diverse perspectives and expertise, it will drive more comprehensive and innovative solutions.

Role-model the desired behaviours

Support plays a critical role in cultivating a 'Yes' mindset, and it is important to actively demonstrate strength and resilience in failure, accept ambiguity, and actively listen. This is true for leaders and for teams. As a result, expectations, rewards, and recognition all need to be aligned, and focused primarily on the process, not the result.

Embrace the journey

There is no greater reward to the Company than seeing a team succeed at something that has never been done before; even more so if, at the start, the goal seemed impossible. There will be tensions, setbacks, difficulties, and maybe despair. But there will also be an amazing output that brings value to the patient and HCP communities; there will be learning, laughter, joy, and a team of individuals with a rock-solid bond that will become unstoppable. So, just say YES…How can we make it happen? 

About the author

Delphine has 20 years of experience in pharma with a specialism in successfully launching brands in vaccines and specialty care markets. With a growth-focused mindset she is focused on inspiring and leading both strategic and operational teams to get results.