The Uncharted Veterinary Podcast

A manager with fantastic team leads—dedicated, hardworking, and aligned with the clinic’s mission—struggles to help these leads transition from being top team members to effective leaders who can manage and hold their peers accountable. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Andy and Stephanie break down the challenges of shifting from being "one of the team" to being the person responsible for enforcing standards and accountability. They explore why this transition can be so difficult and offer practical advice on how to empower your team leads, set clear expectations, and provide the right kind of support as they grow into their new roles. If you’ve ever promoted a team member to a leadership position and found they struggled with managing their former peers, this episode is packed with insights and strategies to help you and your team leads succeed. Let's get into this episode...

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How do you manage staff anxiety about the upcoming schedule without turning away clients and compromising care? In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and practice management super star, Stephanie Goss dive into a mailbag question that resonates deeply with many veterinary teams. A concerned manager writes in about their team’s growing habit of preemptively freaking out when they see a busy day ahead, leading to requests for limiting appointments and turning pets away, even though most days end up going smoothly. Stephanie Goss, with her extensive experience in practice management, and Dr. Andy Roark tackle this issue head-on, discussing the delicate balance between preparing for a busy schedule and maintaining a calm, productive work environment. They explore the common cognitive biases like catastrophizing and negativity bias that can exacerbate these fears and share actionable strategies for addressing these challenges. Together, they walk you through action steps that you can implement in your clinic to avoid this chicken little mentality. Let's get into this episode....

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Care is Your Calling

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Are traditional expectations around resignations and job stability becoming outdated? A practice owner shares their concerns about the increasing trend of employees resigning via email or text and the prevalence of job-hopping on resumes. How can we navigate these changing norms without feeling out of touch? In this episode, Maria and Andy explore how to approach these issues with empathy and strategic thinking. They discuss practical steps for interviewing candidates with job-hopping histories, setting clear expectations during onboarding, and cultivating a workplace culture that encourages retention. Maria's deep understanding of leadership and her passion for helping others develop their skills make her the perfect guide for this conversation. Maria Pirita, a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager, Elite Fear Free Certified Veterinary Professional, and former hospital administrator, joins the conversation with her wealth of experience in veterinary medicine and leadership. Maria has spent over a decade in the field and over 20 years honing her leadership skills, making her an expert in helping veterinary leaders adapt to evolving workplace dynamics. Her background in veterinary marketing, team building, and positive work culture provides invaluable insights for addressing these modern challenges. For veterinary practice owners and managers facing the realities of today’s job market, this episode offers essential strategies for maintaining professionalism and respect while adapting to change. Join us as we tackle these critical issues with Maria’s expert guidance.

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Care is Your Calling

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This practice owner is seeking guidance on how to help their team become more empathetic and flexible with clients who may not immediately agree with recommendations. In this episode, Stephanie Goss and Dr. Andy Roark tackle a common challenge faced by veterinary practice teams: how to improve emotional intelligence and client compassion when dealing with resistant or questioning clients. Stephanie and Andy dive into the root causes of this issue, discussing how mental exhaustion and frustration can lead to negative attitudes toward clients. They offer actionable strategies for creating a more compassionate and client-centered culture, including conducting reset meetings, fostering open communication, and implementing recognition programs for positive client interactions. Let's get into this episode... This episode is brought to you by DaySmart Vet. https://www.daysmart.com/vet/features/

A young practice manager is struggling to maintain the momentum and enthusiasm of a high-quality team that, after an initial burst of energy, has started to settle into complacency. Despite intentional efforts to create a strong culture, clear pay scales, and a supportive environment, the leadership team is finding it difficult to inspire the same level of excitement and growth-driven mindset among their staff. Dr. Roark and Stephanie dive into the complexities of team dynamics, the importance of patience in building trust and culture, and the challenges of sustaining motivation in a growing practice. They explore how to gauge whether a team's resistance is due to processing time, differing communication styles, or simply a need for clearer direction. Through personal anecdotes and practical advice, they offer insights into how leaders can align their vision with their team's enthusiasm. Let's get into this episode...

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Care is Your Calling

This Practice Manager, like many, is not looking forward to letting someone at their practice go but what makes this particularly challenging is that this person has already expressed financial concerns. This week, Stephanie Goss is joined by Rebecca Rose, an RVT, CCC (Certified Career Coach), and CPEP (Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Professional), as they discuss how to navigate this conversation. With over 40 years of experience, Rebecca shares her insights on dealing with layoffs, the importance of employee handbooks, and maintaining a compassionate yet professional demeanor during challenging discussions. They also explore the emotional aspects of leadership and provide practical tips for handling tough conversations with empathy and clarity. Rebecca Rose's impressive career spans nearly four decades, during which she has managed veterinary clinics, collaborated with industry partners, authored articles and books, and facilitated engaging team workshops. Recently appointed to the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine as one of the first RVT Members, Rebecca's enthusiasm for professional development is contagious. She is dedicated to supporting veterinary teams in reaching their highest potential and believes in building a healthy, sustainable career in veterinary medicine through memorable storytelling and interactive courses. Rebecca's extensive experience and dedication make her the perfect guest for this episode, offering valuable advice on handling difficult conversations and supporting veterinary teams with empathy and professionalism. Let's get into this episode... LINKS

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Care is Your Calling

This manager faces challenges with constant corrections from a perfectionist team member, causing tension within the team. Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss dive deep into managing perfectionist tendencies in a veterinary setting, highlighting the importance of empathy, open communication, and objective management. They explore how the veterinary education system can contribute to perfectionist behaviors and discuss strategies for balancing high standards with team harmony. This episode is packed with action items for any practice owner, manager, leader or veterinary team member who might be dealing with a similar situation. Let's get into this episode...

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Care is Your Calling

A practice owner is struggling how to communicate taking responsibility even when they didn't do anything wrong. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss tackle a tough mailbag question from a practice owner dealing with a post-surgery complication. After a routine spay, a client reported swelling at the incision site, which quickly escalated to an emergency vet visit. The associate vet who performed the surgery believes they did nothing wrong, as confirmed by the emergency vet. However, the practice owner is considering helping with the ER bill to maintain client trust, but struggles with the associate's concerns about admitting fault. Andy and Stephanie dive into the complexities of balancing client care, maintaining team morale, and upholding the practice’s integrity. They offer insights on handling post-surgical complications, fostering open communication, and navigating the delicate balance between supporting clients and protecting the veterinary team. Let's get into this episode...

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Care is Your Calling

A veterinary professional who recently stepped into the role of tech team lead is facing the challenge of earning their team's trust while aligning with the practice owner's vision. In this episode of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast, practice management super nerd, Stephanie Goss is joined by guests Tyler Grogan and Kelsey Beth Carpenter. Join them as they dive into a mailbag letter from a loyal listener who is struggling to transition from being a peer to a leader, especially when they support the direction set by the practice owner. Together, Stephanie, Tyler and Kelsey discuss strategies for balancing team dynamics, maintaining trust, and clear communication. They share insights on establishing expectations, open communication lines, and the importance of setting personal and professional standards to thrive in a new leadership role. Let's get into this episode...

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Care is Your Calling

This medical director is struggling with a micromanager who is now overstepping on the medicine side of the practice. Dr. Andy Roark and practice management super nerd, Stephanie Goss take on this mailbag to help a team member deal with a manager that makes jokes about being the boss and making the decisions. The rest of the team finds it more threatening than funny and now, some of those micromanaging tendencies are starting to slip into the medical protocols. Let's get into this episode!

Mentioned in this episode:

Care is Your Calling

Get the Protocol Training Game Here!

Join us for the Medical Director Summit!