Why you need to make time for one on one conversations with your team...

I know what your thinking.. I barely have enough time to pee, or eat, let alone meet with all of the members of my team to get to know more about them. Can’t they just suck it up, come to work and get the job done? Well I have been in your shoes with not enough days in a week or hours in a day to meet all the demands of a busy veterinary practice. Can I let you in on a little secret? If you can take the time to get to know your team, I mean really know who they are as professionals and individuals those walls that are closing in won’t feel like they are going to crush you anymore. Yes I said it! I’m sure your thinking this lady is nuts she has no idea what my day is like. Well think again! The nuts part may be right but I know what it’s like to run a busy, high quality veterinary practice. As a matter of fact that was my life and passion for the past 15 years as a GP small animal veterinary practice manager ranging from teams of 10 to 90 people. I love veterinary medicine and everything that it’s about. But you know what I realized in all the hustle and bustle.. I love my veterinary team even more. They are the ones that will make or break an organization and your job as a leader is to know them professionally and personally.

I promise you if you take the time to learn their hopes, dreams, fears and aspirations they will give you 110% all the time. I am a true believer that most people that come to work and want to work hard and do a good job. They just need the tools, knowledge and leadership that inspires them to be the best version of themselves. Getting to know them as individuals is the first step. I challenge you to make a list of all of your team members and a goal to learn one new thing about them weekly or even monthly. I’m not asking you to do hours of meetings with time that is already impossible to find. Just to take baby steps each day. Be genuine and ask how their weekend was or how their family is doing. Compliment them on their shoes or a job well done and then ask them what you can do to help them reach their goals. Ask a team member if you can buy them a cup of coffee {everyone needs caffeine right?} and on the way there ask them a question about themselves whether it be professional or about their personal life. Then.. this is the most important part just listen.. Don’t give advice or interrupt just listen and when they are finished if you have some wisdom to share ask them if they would mind you sharing, The start of a solid foundation is built one brick at a time. I challenge you to start building. I promise you won’t regret it and the result will be more engaged, productive and happier employees. To learn more about how we help veterinary teams become the best versions of themselves visit us at www.agvetconsulting.com