Community pharmacy can be a lonely profession and it is all too easy for pharmacists to feel professionally isolated. The good news is that there are more opportunities to network and connect to people today than at any time in the last decade. You just need to be armed with a clear goal, an understanding of your current network, an outline plan, access to the internet and you are ready to go.

More than ever people are connecting to each other and networking in the online world, although the gold standard of communication is still face-to-face. Look for opportunities in both areas, considering some of the examples below to get you started:

• Continuing education meetings
• Forums
• Conferences
• Local surgery practice meetings
• Local Pharmaceutical Committee meetings
• Local Practice Forum meetings
• Breakfast meetings
• Local community groups
• Business Link or Chamber of Commerce €¢ Supplier events
• Professional body meetings.
• Online networking
• Professional forums and online communities
• Business networking sites (e.g. LinkedIn)
•  Social networking sites (e.g. Facebook)
• Electronic mailing lists.

Remember that the more you connect to others and the more effort you invest in this area, the more your skills, knowledge and confidence will grow. Then the more your network grows, the greater the benefit that you and others will experience.