The Veterinary Leadership Success Show

123: My Team Quit and It Saved My Vet Practice with Dr. Molly Husman


Listen Later

What do you do when most of your team walks out? Pour a stiff drink? Hide under the desk? 

In this week’s Veterinary Leadership Success Show, I’m joined by Dr. Molly Husman, owner of Brinker Veterinary Hospital up in Lake Orion, Michigan, and a woman who has lived through the leadership nightmare most of us secretly dread.

Within a year of buying her clinic, she made the brave decision to let someone go. It didn’t go down well. In fact, it set off a chain reaction that left her with just a handful of staff and a whole lot of self-doubt.

But here’s where the story gets good. Molly didn’t crumble - she rebuilt. Brick by brick, hire by hire, dad joke by dad joke (you’ll see what I mean). She rediscovered her purpose, learned to trust again, and built a team that actually wants to be there. Today, she’s running a low-volume, high-touch, heart-led practice that’s about to move into a new purpose-built home.

We talk about the fear of letting go, the power of trust, and why sometimes the most painful decisions turn out to be the best thing that could’ve happened to you.

Grab your headphones, pour something strong, and settle in - this one’s a masterclass in courage, clarity, and leadership with heart.

Episode Outline

[00:03] – When your whole team walks out

[03:20] – Buying a clinic with someone else’s culture

[05:16] – The firing that changed everything

[06:07] – “Stay in joy or go in peace”

[08:20] – Rebuilding from scratch

[09:42] – Turning fear into freedom

[13:11] – What trust really looks like in a vet clinic

[14:24] – Looking at your clinic differently

[16:39] – Learning to step back and actually lead

[18:34] – Realizing you might be the problem

[20:25] – Hiring slow, building fast

[22:12] – One interview question that changed everything

[23:51] – Trust as the heartbeat of culture

[25:18] – Building a practice that fits you

Connect with Dr. Molly Husman
  • Brinker Veterinary Hospital
  • Connect with Dr. Molly on Linkedin


Follow Dr. Dave Nicol for More Leadership Insights
  • Follow: @drdavenicol
  • Learn more about Veterinary Leadership Training: Veterinary Leadership Academy


Enjoyed this episode?

Leave a review on iTunes and share it with your colleagues in vet med.

Mentioned in this episode:

Mentioned in this episode:

Is managing conflict and stress within your team becoming a daily struggle?

Are strained relationships and unresolved tensions holding your veterinary practice back?
For many practice owners, navigating the complexities of team dynamics can be overwhelming. Without the right skills, stress and conflict can quickly escalate, affecting your practice’s culture and performance.
At the Veterinary Leadership Academy, we specialize in helping practice owners develop the skills to manage conflict and reduce stress. Our program will teach you effective communication strategies, how to handle difficult conversations, and ways to foster a positive, collaborative team environment.
With weekly group coaching sessions, you’ll receive ongoing support to address these challenges head-on. The course is fully online, accredited, and open for applications now. Visit drdavenicol.com/veterinary-leadership-academy to apply today.
Don’t let conflict and stress undermine your practice. Equip yourself with the tools to lead a harmonious, high-performing team.
Visit drdavenicol.com/veterinary-leadership-academy now.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Veterinary Leadership Success ShowBy By Dr Dave Nicol

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

1 ratings


More shows like The Veterinary Leadership Success Show

View all
VETgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts by Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT and Dr. Garret Pachinger, DACVECC

VETgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts

398 Listeners

The Veterinary Marketing Podcast by Brandon Breshears

The Veterinary Marketing Podcast

42 Listeners

Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast by Dr. Ernie Ward & Beckie Mossor, RVT

Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast

94 Listeners

Blunt Dissection by Blunt Dissection

Blunt Dissection

85 Listeners

The Uncharted Veterinary Podcast by Uncharted Veterinary Community

The Uncharted Veterinary Podcast

140 Listeners

Clinician's Brief: The Podcast by Clinician's Brief

Clinician's Brief: The Podcast

106 Listeners

The Cone of Shame Veterinary Podcast by Dr. Andy Roark

The Cone of Shame Veterinary Podcast

176 Listeners

Smarter Vet Financial Podcast by Florida Veterinary Advisors

Smarter Vet Financial Podcast

38 Listeners

VHMA Manager to Manager by Veterinary Hospital Managers Association

VHMA Manager to Manager

16 Listeners

Veterinary Team Training by Amy Newfield, MS, CVT, VTS (ECC)

Veterinary Team Training

20 Listeners

PAWSitive Leadership Podcast by pawsitiveleadershippodcast

PAWSitive Leadership Podcast

14 Listeners

Veterinary Financial Podcast by Veterinary Financial Summit

Veterinary Financial Podcast

13 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

20,247 Listeners

The Bird Bath by The Bird Bath

The Bird Bath

17 Listeners

Veterinary Business Podcast by Veterinary Business Podcast

Veterinary Business Podcast

2 Listeners