In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, I’m diving into one of the most common frustrations veterinary professionals face—difficult client interactions—and flipping the script.

What if the problem isn’t just the clients? What if the way we communicate, the assumptions we make, and the systems we put in place are actually feeding the fire?

Drawing from a recent conversation at a veterinary congress, I explore the hidden costs of poor communication, the myths we tell ourselves about client behavior, and the powerful evidence that shows just how appreciated we really are by the public. If you’ve ever felt demoralized by one too many rude comments, this episode will reset your perspective and give you tools to build better client relationships.

Whether you’re a seasoned vet or new to practice, this episode will remind you why the way you connect with clients matters and what to do when it goes wrong.

Episode Outline: 

[00:00] – "You’re Only in It for the Money"

[02:15] – Are Vets Really Overpaid? The Truth Behind the Money Myth

[04:40] – Clients Trust You More Than You Think (Here’s the Data)

[07:10] – What Breaks Trust: Small Failures, Big Consequences

[09:00] – They Won’t Say Yes if They Don’t Trust You

[10:45] – Soft Skills Are Core Skills—Build Them Into Your Practice

Follow Dr. Dave Nicol for More Leadership Insights:

Follow Dave: @drdavenicol

Learn more about Veterinary Leadership Training: Veterinary Leadership Academy

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

In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, I’m joined by Rita Dingwall—practice manager, leadership advocate, and Chair of the Federation of Independent Veterinary Practices. With more than 30 years in the veterinary profession, Rita has seen it all—and she’s here to share her wisdom.

Together, we tackle a topic close to both our hearts: why every veterinary practice needs a capable practice manager, and what happens when you actually let them do the job you hired them to do. From team performance to supplier negotiations and culture-building, Rita reveals the value of empowered practice managers and the high cost of micromanagement.

Whether you’re thinking of hiring your first manager or just need a reminder of what they’re capable of, this one’s for you.

Episode Outline: 

[00:00] – "Let Them Manage" – The Case for Trusting Your Practice Manager

[01:30] – Meet Rita Dingwall: 30+ Years in Vetland and Still Learning

[02:30] – Leadership Lessons for New Managers (and Surrogate Sons)

[03:00] – Rita’s First Role: “Just Come and Organize Us”

[04:20] – When’s the Right Time to Hire a Practice Manager?

[05:30] – The Financial ROI of a Great Practice Manager

[06:30] – The Low-Hanging Fruit: Where Practice Managers Add Immediate Value

[07:30] – Team Clarity, Retention & Culture: Why This Role Is More Than Admin

[08:15] – Operations, Marketing, HR… and That’s Just the Start

[09:10] – CPD, Mentoring & Mental Health – The Real Backbone of the Team

[10:00] – What’s the Magic Number? When You Can’t Afford Not to Hire

[10:30] – Practice Managers ≠ Administrators: Trust, Don’t Micromanage

[11:15] – Fix the Axle: Why Alignment Between Owners & Managers Is Everything

Connect with Rita Dingwall:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-dingwall-707979a/

Learn more about the Federation of Independent Veterinary Practices: https://fivp.org.uk/

Follow Dr. Dave Nicol for More Leadership Insights:

Follow Dave: @drdavenicol

Learn more about Veterinary Leadership Training: Veterinary Leadership Academy

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Are you finding it impossible to carve out time for leadership tasks in your veterinary practice?

In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, I’m joined by Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton, a litigator-turned-mediator specializing in veterinary medicine. Debra has dedicated her career to helping veterinary teams and pet owners navigate conflicts with compassion and clarity.

Let’s face it—difficult conversations are inevitable in veterinary practice. Whether it’s handling an upset client, resolving team disagreements, or addressing medical missteps, knowing how to defuse emotional “bombs” before they explode is an essential leadership skill.

In this episode, Debra shares her top strategies for handling high-stakes conversations, including the key phrases every veterinary professional should know to keep discussions constructive and to avoid escalation.

[00:00:00] –Why Conflict Resolution is a Must-Have Skill in Veterinary Medicine

[00:03:00] – The #1 Mistake Vets Make When Handling Upset Clients

[00:07:00] – Defusing the Bomb: The Art of Active Listening & De-escalation

[00:12:30] – Managing Expectations: How Transparency Prevents Future Conflicts

[00:18:45] – Top 5 Phrases Every Vet Should Use in Difficult Conversations

[00:24:15] – "Get It Right, Don’t Be Right" – The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything

[00:28:30] – How to Train Your Team to Handle Conflict Effectively

Visit Debra’s Website: Hamilton Law & Mediation

Listen to Debra’s Podcast: Why Do Pets Matter?

Follow Dave: @drdavenicol

Learn more about Veterinary Leadership Training: https://www.drdavenicol.com/veterinary-leadership-academy 

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

In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, Dr. Dave Nicol is joined once again by leadership expert Dr. Peter Weinstein to dive into their top three must-read leadership books for veterinary professionals.

Great leadership isn’t just about managing people—it’s about inspiring teams, making smart decisions, and building a sustainable, thriving practice. But with so many books on leadership out there, which ones actually make a difference? In this episode, Dave and Peter break down their current favorite reads and explain how these books can transform the way you lead your team and run your practice.

[00:00:00] – Introduction: The Leadership Book Challenge

[00:01:18] – Why Leadership is a Team Sport (Lessons from John Wooden)

[00:03:37] – Conscious Business – The Book That Changed Dave’s Leadership Approach

[00:05:07] – How to Win Friends & Influence People – A Timeless Classic

[00:06:16] – Turn the Ship Around! – How to Lead When Everything Feels Broken

[00:08:22] – Trust & Inspire – The Future of Leadership

[00:10:27] – Blue Ocean Strategy – Strategic Thinking for Veterinary Leaders

[00:12:32] – The Must-Read Leadership Book for Every Veterinary Practice Owner

Connect with Dr. Peter Weinstein:

• LinkedIn: Dr. Peter Weinstein
• Veterinary Ownership Advocates: https://www.veterinaryownershipadvocates.com/ 

Follow Dr. Dave Nicol for More Leadership Insights:

• Instagram: @drdavenicol
• Website: drdavenicol.com

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Are you finding it impossible to carve out time for leadership tasks in your veterinary practice?

In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, we're diving into a critical question: how engaged is your team, really?

We all want a workplace where people love coming to work, feel valued, and go the extra mile—not because they have to, but because they want to. But how do you actually measure and improve employee engagement in veterinary practice?

Join me as I break down what employee engagement is (and how it’s different from employee experience), why it matters more than ever, and how you can quantify and improve engagement using practical tools like Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) and Gallup’s 12 Questions.

If you’re ready to boost morale, reduce turnover, and build a team that thrives, this episode is for you.

We’re launching the Veterinary Employee Engagement Baseline Study, where you can get your team's eNPS score and benchmark it against practices worldwide. Find out more at drdavenicol.com/get-your-enps

Listen now and start building a culture where your team wants to stay, grow, and succeed.

00:00:00 - Introduction: Why Employee Engagement Matters

00:01:00 - Defining Employee Engagement vs. Employee Experience

00:02:10 - How Engagement Impacts Productivity, Profitability & Well-being

00:04:20 - The Seven Key Metrics for Measuring Engagement

00:09:04 - How to Use Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS)

00:12:53 - Gallup’s 12 Questions: A Proven Engagement Framework

00:16:30 - Turning Insights Into Action: What to Do Next

00:21:30 - Join the Veterinary Employee Engagement Baseline Study

00:23:10 - Conclusion, Join the Movement 

Stay connected for more insights on leadership, culture, and team success in veterinary practice.

Instagram & Facebook: @drdavenicol

Website & Resources: drdavenicol.com

Got a great story about transforming team engagement in your practice? I'd love to hear it! Reach out via social media or my website.

In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, Dr. Dave Nicol is joined once again by leadership expert Dr. Peter Weinstein for a rapid-fire challenge: sharing 10 essential leadership lessons in just 10 minutes.

Veterinary leadership is more important than ever, but what are the key traits that separate great leaders from the rest? In this episode, Dr. Weinstein delivers a concise, no-nonsense breakdown of the fundamental principles that every veterinary leader should embrace.

Dr. Weinstein shares his insights on:

• Why great leaders create other leaders (not just followers)
• The power of listening and asking great questions
• Why vision matters more than micromanagement
• How leaders build strong, collaborative teams
• The importance of keeping your eyes on the future, not the past

🔑 Key Takeaway: Leadership isn’t about control—it’s about empowering those around you. If you want to build a thriving, successful veterinary practice, focus on developing your team, refining your vision, and keeping your sights set on the bigger picture.

Episode Outline

[00:00:00] – Introduction: The 10-Minute Leadership Challenge

[00:02:02] – Leaders Are Learners

[00:02:42] – Leaders Are Listeners

[00:03:16] – Leaders Ask Great Questions

[00:03:50] – The Importance of Vision

[00:05:00] – Great Leaders Build More Leaders

[00:07:20] – Why Empathy Matters

[00:08:30] – The Power of Teamwork & Collaboration

[00:09:15] – Delegation: A Leader’s Secret Weapon

[00:10:30] – Focusing on Outcomes, Not Processes

[00:11:45] – Looking Through the Windshield, Not the Rearview Mirror

Connect with Dr. Peter Weinstein:

• LinkedIn: Dr. Peter Weinstein

Follow Dr. Dave Nicol for More Leadership Insights:

• Instagram: @drdavenicol
• Website: drdavenicol.com

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Are you finding it impossible to carve out time for leadership tasks in your veterinary practice?

In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, Dr. Dave Nicol sits down with Dr. Peter Weinstein to tackle a critical issue in veterinary practice: leadership (or the lack of it).

Veterinary medicine faces significant challenges, from staff retention and burnout to profitability and practice sustainability. But is the real issue a shortage of veterinarians, or is it a lack of effective leadership?

Dr. Weinstein shares his insights on:

• Why many veterinary practices struggle with both the quality and quantity of leadership
• The difference between management and leadership—and why most practices are stuck in the former
• How having a vision, mission, and strong values separates thriving practices from those merely surviving
• The real reason behind staff shortages and why retention should be the focus over recruitment
• The biggest leadership investments that practice owners should make in the next five years

🔑 Key Takeaway: If your goal as a leader is simply to get through the day, you own a job. If your goal is to make a lasting impact on your team, clients, and the profession, then you are a leader.

Are you ready to level up your leadership game? Tune in now.

Episode Outline

[00:00:00] – Introduction: Leadership vs. Management

[00:01:12] – Welcoming Dr. Peter Weinstein

[00:02:40] – The State of Leadership in Veterinary Medicine

[00:03:56] – Why Most Practices Are Stuck in ‘Survival Mode’

[00:05:24] – Leadership as a Long-Term Game

[00:06:55] – The Veterinary Workforce: Is It Really a Shortage?

[00:07:47] – The Power of Retention Over Recruitment

[00:09:33] – How Leadership Impacts Practice Success

[00:12:20] – The Key Investments Leaders Should Make

[00:16:33] – The Role of Communication in Leadership

[00:17:49] – Final Thoughts & Where to Learn More

Connect with Dr. Weinstein on LinkedIn or visit Veterinary Ownership Advocates for more insights on veterinary leadership and practice ownership.

Follow Dr. Dave Nicol for more leadership insights on Instagram, Facebook, and at drdavenicol.com.

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

Is your team pulling in the same direction, or are you stuck in a tug-of-war?

In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges in veterinary practices: team alignment. Without a clear vision and shared goals, individual agendas can clash, leaving your practice inefficient and frustrated.

Discover why a strong, actionable vision is the key to defining who you are, setting clear objectives, and creating accountability that unifies your team. When alignment clicks, it transforms your practice into a place where everyone feels engaged, motivated, and proud to contribute.

Ready to stop the tug-of-war and start pulling together? Listen now.

Episode Outline:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction to Team Alignment
• 00:00:12 - The Importance of Alignment in Veterinary Practices
• 00:01:20 - The Tug of War Analogy
• 00:02:57 - The Role of Vision in Team Alignment
• 00:04:01 - Crafting an Effective Vision
• 00:05:27 - The Power of Purpose and Values
• 00:07:44 - Creating Clarity Around Objectives
• 00:09:08 - The Leader's Role in Alignment
• 00:10:33 - Challenges of Leadership and Alignment
• 00:11:20 - Conclusion and Call to Action
• 00:12:06 - Outro and Resources

Follow Dr. Dave Nicol:

Stay connected with Dr. Dave Nicol on Instagram and Facebook for more insights on veterinary leadership. Visit drdavenicol.com for additional resources.

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Are you finding it impossible to carve out time for leadership tasks in your veterinary practice?

Thinking of opening your own practice? Don’t let fear hold you back.

Many people considering starting their own practice let fear hold them back. But with the right people, the right vision and the right preparation, you can make magic happen.

In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, I’m taking you back to where it all began — the doubts, fears, and leaps of faith that led to owning my first veterinary practice. I’m talking about the hurdles that almost stopped me in my tracks and how seeking the right mentors helped me navigate unfamiliar territory and go after my true calling.

We’ll explore the fears that hold so many of us back and why mentors are crucial in your journey.

So, are you ready to face those fears and start building the future you want? Listen now.

Episode Outline:

• [00:01:14] First experiences in practice ownership.
• [00:04:34] Coaching for business success.
• [00:08:06] Finding mentors for growth.
• [00:11:18] Finding a coach.

Follow Dr. Dave Nicol:

Stay connected with Dr. Dave Nicol on Instagram and Facebook for more insights on veterinary leadership. Visit drdavenicol.com for additional resources.

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Are you finding it impossible to carve out time for leadership tasks in your veterinary practice?

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

In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, we’re shaking things up with a fresh format, bringing you real-life insights straight from the front lines. You’ll hear from veterinary leaders navigating their own leadership journeys, sharing the raw, unfiltered stories of their wins, challenges, and ‘aha’ moments.

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Casandra Fowler from Harmony Animal Hospital, who has been part of the Veterinary Leadership Academy for quite some time. Casandra’s got a remarkable story about transforming her practice from a place bogged down with team toxicity to one of genuine harmony. She and her practice manager, Denise Meredith, open up about the rocky road they travelled to build a tight-knit and effective team.

Harmony Animal Hospital opened in September of 2019 as the first Fear Free Certified veterinary clinic in Northern Virginia. Dr. Casandra Fowler collected a team of 4 dedicated support staff to help her realize the dream of opening her own veterinary practice. The team set out to create a loving and supportive environment, dedicated to providing the highest level of veterinary medicine along with friendly, compassionate service.

Dr. Fowler's clinic has seen tremendous growth, thanks to strong leadership and a dedicated team. But there was a time when the day-to-day grind of handling staff drama and low-value tasks kept Dr. Fowler from focusing on what really mattered. The practice was doing well on paper, but she was overwhelmed and trapped in constant staff drama. Toxicity within the team sapped her passion for creating the thriving, fear-free practice she had always envisioned. Yet, with hard work and determination, she turned things around, leading to an incredible 250% growth in revenue and a healthy culture, free of fear.

This is an episode you’ll want to tune in for. Grab your pen, your notepad, and let’s dive in.

And if you’re looking for a little guidance on your leadership journey, check out my Veterinary Leadership Academy. We’re all about giving you the skills and tools to build a thriving, sustainable practice culture—freeing up your time and letting you focus on what truly matters for you and your team.

Episode Outline:

• [00:02:20] Overcoming team toxicity and building a positive culture.
• [00:06:36] The startup journey and finding the right team dynamics.
• [00:08:20] Hiring for values, not just skills, and finding the right fit.
• [00:12:45] Making courageous staffing decisions.
• [00:17:24] Aligning role fit with practice values.
• [00:21:15] Embracing eco-friendly practices and community involvement.
• [00:23:23] Tips for hiring the right people and sustaining a positive work environment.

Connect with Harmony Animal Hospital:

• Visit Harmony Animal Hospital to learn more about their services and values.

Veterinary Leadership Academy:

• Visit The Veterinary Leadership Academy to learn more about becoming the leader your team deserves.

Follow Dr. Dave Nicol:

Stay connected with Dr. Dave Nicol on Instagram and Facebook for more insights on veterinary leadership. Visit drdavenicol.com for additional resources.

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Are you finding it impossible to carve out time for leadership tasks in your veterinary practice?