Growth Vs. Fixed Mindset: What’s Driving Your PBM Decisions?
Hey, there!
Let’s be real—when it comes to picking a PBM, most decisions aren’t purely analytical. Behind every spreadsheet, rebate guarantee, and network slide lies a quiet, powerful force: mindset.
Some leaders look at a half-full glass and ask how to top it off. Others see a half-empty one and slam on a lid. That’s the fundamental difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset—and it shows up loud and clear in PBM decision-making.
What are the hidden costs of this decision? Lost savings, reduced flexibility, growing dissatisfaction, and poor patient outcomes slipping through your fingers every day you choose the status quo.quo?
Let’s Dive In!
On the surface, PBM choices are about savings, discounts, and access. But scratch a little deeper, and the real question comes into focus: “Are we trying to make things better, or just trying not to make them worse?”
Let’s talk about GLP-1s for example. When Prodigy predicted the impact of these meds—Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro—in the Workers’ Comp space, some folks reacted with raised eyebrows: "That’s a stretch," or "Way too expensive." [Read article]. That was classic, instinctive fixed mindset response. But growth-minded leaders? They asked the right questions and saw the possibilities — faster recoveries, fewer complications, and workers getting back on their feet sooner. Same therapy. Different lens. Very different outcome.
When Fixed Mindset Takes the Wheel
A fixed mindset doesn’t just make you cautious—it can lead you straight into confirmation bias. Once you decide “change is risky,” your brain starts ignoring anything that suggests otherwise. You seek out familiar reports, lean on legacy consultants, and choose vendors who’ve always told you what you wanted to hear. We covered this before, if you keep your feedback loop small, don’t expect big breakthroughs.
Firefighting Vs. Future-Proofing
Fixed-minded leaders spend their days reacting—chasing audits, patching leaks, negotiating Band-Aids. Growth-minded leaders shift gears. They design systems that prevent the fires in the first place.
In prior posts we explored how great leaders tune out distractions to focus on what really matters. That applies here too: picking a PBM isn’t just about chasing today’s rebates and discounts. It’s about future-proofing and building a smarter pharmacy strategy that will excel next year—and five years from now. Every month you delay the switch, you risk losing your ability to future-proof your pharmacy program.
Spotting A Growth Mindset in Your PBM Strategy irefighting
So how do you know if your team’s leading with a growth lens? Here are the signs:
You want transparency. Not just a big number—but clarity on how that number works.
You embrace innovation. You’re not afraid of new therapies—you ask what they make possible.
You think beyond the quarter. You make moves today that pay off tomorrow.
You value clinicians . Clinical leadership isn’t just welcome—it’s essential.
Gut Check: Fear or Vision
Every PBM decision is a mirror. It reflects what you truly believe: Are you trying to avoid risk, or create value?
We’ve seen both sides. Fixed mindset thinkers cling to legacy models, even when those models are quietly leaking value. Growth-minded leaders flip the script. They partner with innovators like Prodigy—and unlock data, visibility, and clinical outcomes they never thought possible. It’s not reckless. It’s just bold.
Bottom Line:
Let’s stop pretending PBM selection is just about procurement. It’s about leadership. So ask yourself: Are you playing not to lose? Or are you playing to win?
Because the future belongs to leaders with a growth mindset who don’t just settle for what’s in the glass. They ask for the pitcher.
Are you a growth-minded leader or a fixed mindset thinker?
Let’s chat.
