Veterinary Voices

Join Julie South in this milestone episode of the Vet Staff podcast as she reflects on an incredible journey spanning 199 episodes, five continents, 100 countries, and 1400 cities. 

From its humble beginnings during New Zealand's 2020 lockdown to becoming a global platform for veterinary professionals, the podcast has defied the odds in a world where 90% of podcasts never make it past their third episode.

Julie shares a bit of the hard work, dedication, and passion that have fuelled the podcast's success, and she expresses heartfelt gratitude to loyal listeners around the world.

As the podcast evolves into "Veterinary Voices," Julie is excited to introduce a new chapter that continues to celebrate the veterinary profession in New Zealand and beyond.

In this episode, Julie previews the exciting line up of guests for the upcoming "Veterinary Voices," including Kevin Bryant, CEO of the New Zealand Veterinary Association, and Associate Professor Laura Harvey, President of the New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association. 

With engaging conversations and inspiring stories, the new series promises to highlight the best of the veterinary industry in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Don't miss out on this exciting transition! Hit the follow button on your favourite podcast app to stay connected and be part of the next 199 episodes celebrating veterinary excellence.

Could Your Kind of People recognise Their Kind of Clinic?

A job ad may catch a vet’s or nurse’s eye. But it’s their own due diligence that determines whether they apply—or keep in touch.

Culture Story Centres turn real experiences from inside your team into credible, discoverable recruitment evidence, giving vets and nurses meaningful reasons to choose your clinic.

Explore Culture Story Centres for veterinary clinics

What if the key to skyrocketing your veterinary practice's productivity lies in the counterintuitive strategy of slowing down?

Today, Julie South takes you on a journey through the art of effective time management that is so opposite to what you'd expect, it's paradoxically pretty amazing!

Discover how the Pomodoro technique—working in focused intervals with strategic breaks—can transform your workday.

Hear success stories and discover how you can implement similar work rhythm strategies in smaller veterinary practices.

You're guaranteed you'll find practical tips on setting aside time for special projects and upskilling your team, drawing inspiration from Atlassian's "Ship It Days."

Feel the power of achieving a flow state and get actionable steps to create distraction-free zones and extend deep work sessions gradually.

Julie shares the roadmap she uses for reorganising clinic rosters to suit your team's preferred working hours. By building teamwork and showing early wins, you'll discover how to overcome resistance and cultivate a happier, more creative, and resilient workforce.

Forget working harder; discover how working smarter can lead to a more adaptable and skilled veterinary team. Join Julie in this episode and embrace these innovative strategies to elevate your practice today!

Could Your Kind of People recognise Their Kind of Clinic?

A job ad may catch a vet’s or nurse’s eye. But it’s their own due diligence that determines whether they apply—or keep in touch.

Culture Story Centres turn real experiences from inside your team into credible, discoverable recruitment evidence, giving vets and nurses meaningful reasons to choose your clinic.

Explore Culture Story Centres for veterinary clinics

How familiar are you with the "protective" laws involved in reference checking?

Julie South from VetStaff explores the complexities of reference checks in New Zealand's veterinary profession. Prompted by an unusual request, she examines the legal risks of mishandling references, stressing adherence to the Privacy Act and Fair Trading Act.

Key Takeaways:

1. Legal Boundaries: Julie emphasises the importance of understanding the legal framework of reference checks, highlighting the consequences of Privacy Act breaches and the need for explicit consent.
2. Reference Checking: Learn how to verify reference authenticity and "triangulate" sources for reliable information, with practical tips for lawful checks.
3. Exit Agreements: Explore how exit agreements and non-disparagement clauses can lead to misleading references and how to uncover the truth.
4. Workforce Assurance Standards: Julie discusses standards by the NZ Public Service Commission to improve reference quality and prevent unchecked employee movement, advocating for similar standards in the veterinary sector.
5. Advice for Employers: The episode provides ten essential questions for reference checks and guidance on documenting feedback to avoid disputes.

Why Listen?

This episode is essential for veterinary professionals in hiring or job-seeking. 

Julie offers insights into the legal and ethical aspects of reference checks, helping listeners navigate recruitment confidently. Whether refining your hiring process or understanding your rights, this episode provides practical advice and discussions to enhance your understanding of New Zealand's veterinary recruitment landscape. 

Listen today to arm yourself with the knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of reference checks in New Zealand, protecting your professional journey and building a fair recruitment environment.

Could Your Kind of People recognise Their Kind of Clinic?

A job ad may catch a vet’s or nurse’s eye. But it’s their own due diligence that determines whether they apply—or keep in touch.

Culture Story Centres turn real experiences from inside your team into credible, discoverable recruitment evidence, giving vets and nurses meaningful reasons to choose your clinic.

Explore Culture Story Centres for veterinary clinics

Ever wondered if a career as a locum vet or vet nurse in New Zealand could be your next big move...?

This week VetStaff's Julie South explores the (sometimes) thrilling possibilities and (dreaded) daunting challenges of locuming in New Zealand's veterinary clinics.

From the (apparent) attractive perks of higher hourly rates and (perceived) flexible schedules to the potential pitfalls like financial instability and fleeting workplace relationships, she lays it all out. 

Discover how locuming can offer personal growth, the chance to test out different clinics, and the opportunity to work in varied settings. However, Julie also highlights the less glamorous side of the equation, such as unpredictability and the administrative burdens that come with the territory. 

Whether you're seeking adventure or need stability, Julie's analysis gives you the insights you need to make an informed decision.

Building meaningful connections within the veterinary community is essential, and in this episode, Julie invites you to connect with fellow veterinary professionals like your hosts, Julie South and her colleague, Tania Bruce. 

Share your location, leave reviews, and connect through VetStaff's website start building your supportive and connected workplace.  

Discover how to be the best version of yourself in your veterinary career while making impactful connections along the way. Your involvement not only helps us grow but also supports our mission of enhancing vet clinics' online presence. Tune in to discover how you can contribute to and benefit from this vibrant community.

Could Your Kind of People recognise Their Kind of Clinic?

A job ad may catch a vet’s or nurse’s eye. But it’s their own due diligence that determines whether they apply—or keep in touch.

Culture Story Centres turn real experiences from inside your team into credible, discoverable recruitment evidence, giving vets and nurses meaningful reasons to choose your clinic.

Explore Culture Story Centres for veterinary clinics

Can focusing on trivial tasks be sabotaging your productivity?

Discover how displacement activities, those sneaky forms of procrastination, trick you into feeling accomplished while keeping you from tackling crucial tasks. 

In this episode of the Vet Staff podcast, Julie South unpacks the psychological discomfort behind these behaviours and the misleading dopamine hits they provide. 

By understanding how common distractions like organising the medicine cabinet instead of updating patient records can stifle your efficiency, you'll gain valuable insights into your own work habits.

Julie shares practical strategies to combat these distractions, such as chunking tasks and implementing the two-minute rule, to help you regain control. But that's not all; she emphasises the power of workplace support and collaboration. 

By sharing these insights with your colleagues, you can create a more positive and motivated work environment. 

Because your thoughts and experiences are important to Julie, she invites you to connect with her, and strive together to become the most productive versions of ourselves. 

Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your productivity and workplace morale!

Could Your Kind of People recognise Their Kind of Clinic?

A job ad may catch a vet’s or nurse’s eye. But it’s their own due diligence that determines whether they apply—or keep in touch.

Culture Story Centres turn real experiences from inside your team into credible, discoverable recruitment evidence, giving vets and nurses meaningful reasons to choose your clinic.

Explore Culture Story Centres for veterinary clinics

Ever wondered why some meetings feel like a waste of time while others drive real results? 

Discover the secrets to conducting powerful and efficient veterinary clinic meetings that will transform your practice's productivity. 

This episode of the Vet Staff Podcast reveals strategies to streamline your meetings with clear agendas, proper scheduling, and ensuring the right team members are present and prepared. 

Learn how skilled facilitation can navigate diverse personality dynamics and keep discussions focused on truly important topics, avoiding the common pitfall of "bike shedding."

We'll share proven techniques to generate active participation and accountability, transforming your meetings from dreaded obligations into valuable tools for enhanced communication and collaboration. 

By prioritising agenda items and engaging all attendees, you'll ensure meaningful outcomes and a culture of accountability that extends beyond the meeting room.

Whether you're a clinic manager or a team member, these insights will help you optimize your meetings and boost overall efficiency in your veterinary practice. Don't miss this chance to revolutionize your meeting practices and elevate your clinic's performance.

Could Your Kind of People recognise Their Kind of Clinic?

A job ad may catch a vet’s or nurse’s eye. But it’s their own due diligence that determines whether they apply—or keep in touch.

Culture Story Centres turn real experiences from inside your team into credible, discoverable recruitment evidence, giving vets and nurses meaningful reasons to choose your clinic.

Explore Culture Story Centres for veterinary clinics

Is your clinic still struggling with the post-pandemic workforce transformation?

Discover how to turn these challenges into opportunities by understanding the concept of psychological safety and its profound impact on new hires and annual performance reviews.

Join Julie South, Certified DISC Trainer and Resilience Coach, as she introduces the juniority benefit, the swoosh pattern of psychological safety levels over time, and the peak-end rule cognitive bias. 

This episode is packed with insights on how these elements can shape your onboarding processes and yearly evaluations, ultimately enhancing your clinic’s performance and morale.

Drawing parallels between the veterinary and airline industries, Julie explores how early retirements of experienced mentors have created significant training gaps. 

Julie shares recent studies and expert insights on building a psychologically safe environment that promotes learning, collaboration, and peak performance. 

Whether you're a practice owner, manager, or new team member, this episode offers actionable strategies for creating a supportive and thriving workplace, ensuring your team is equipped to handle the complexities of their roles with confidence. 

Tune in to transform your clinic’s dynamics and elevate your team’s potential.

Could Your Kind of People recognise Their Kind of Clinic?

A job ad may catch a vet’s or nurse’s eye. But it’s their own due diligence that determines whether they apply—or keep in touch.

Culture Story Centres turn real experiences from inside your team into credible, discoverable recruitment evidence, giving vets and nurses meaningful reasons to choose your clinic.

Explore Culture Story Centres for veterinary clinics

Join Julie South, a Certified DISC Trainer and Resilience Coach, as she delves into the art of reaching consensus within teams. 

Julie emphasises the importance of creating a safe space for open conversations, setting clear objectives, and encouraging diverse perspectives to ensure everyone feels heard and valued. 

She provides practical strategies and best practice questions to help teams navigate through reaching consensus effectively. 

By focusing on assumptions rather than beliefs, Julie guides listeners on how to keep discussions productive and inclusive. 

Understanding different communication styles and personality types is also highlighted to overcome resistance to consensus. 

Tune in to learn how to build team cohesion and make better decisions through consensus-building techniques.

Key Takeaways:

1. Creating a safe space for open conversations is crucial for reaching consensus within teams.
2. Setting clear objectives and encouraging diverse perspectives lead to more innovative decision-making processes.
3. Focusing on assumptions rather than beliefs helps in keeping discussions productive and inclusive.

Questions Answered:

1. What are the strategies for reaching consensus within a team?
2. How can diverse perspectives contribute to better decision-making?
3. What are the best practice questions to ask to keep consensus reaching on track?
4. How can different personality types resist reaching consensus, and how can this resistance be overcome?
5. Why is focusing on assumptions rather than beliefs important in consensus-building discussions?

Could Your Kind of People recognise Their Kind of Clinic?

A job ad may catch a vet’s or nurse’s eye. But it’s their own due diligence that determines whether they apply—or keep in touch.

Culture Story Centres turn real experiences from inside your team into credible, discoverable recruitment evidence, giving vets and nurses meaningful reasons to choose your clinic.

Explore Culture Story Centres for veterinary clinics

Have you ever wondered how to unlock the full potential of your veterinary team?

Join DISC Certified Trainer and Resilience Coach Julie South as she unravels some of the secrets to boosting employee engagement in the veterinary industry. 

Julie shares practical strategies and expert insights that can transform your clinic's culture and performance.

Three key takeaways from this episode include:

1. Discover the impact of employee engagement on clinic profitability and customer satisfaction.
2. Learn actionable techniques to uplift staff morale and cultivate a positive work environment in veterinary practices.
3. Explore effective approaches to rekindle passion and motivation among your veterinary team members.

Southern Cross & BusinessNZ Workplace Wellness Study 

Hospital Staff Work to Rule - 2022

Ep 189 - Words and Gestures:  A window into your colleagues’ personalities – verbal and non verbal language 

Ep 190 - Cracking the Code to Team Success: Psychological Safety, Collaboration, and Connection

Could Your Kind of People recognise Their Kind of Clinic?

A job ad may catch a vet’s or nurse’s eye. But it’s their own due diligence that determines whether they apply—or keep in touch.

Culture Story Centres turn real experiences from inside your team into credible, discoverable recruitment evidence, giving vets and nurses meaningful reasons to choose your clinic.

Explore Culture Story Centres for veterinary clinics

Julie South,  Certified DISC Trainer and Resilience Coach, delves into the crucial topic of employee engagement. Discover how understanding and addressing your team's needs can transform your clinic's culture, boost productivity, and drive overall success.

Julie shares practical strategies and actionable steps to cultivate a motivated, satisfied, and high-performing workforce. Discover how to implement effective communication, provide growth opportunities, and create clear career progression paths to foster a positive work environment.

Key insights from Gallup's 2024 State of the Global Workforce report highlight the significant impact of great managers and engaged employees on achieving higher profitability and resilience, especially during challenging times.

Three Key Takeaways:

1. Recognising Disengagement: Julie outlines the subtle and overt signs of employee disengagement, such as decreased productivity, lack of enthusiasm, and increased absenteeism. Understanding these signs is the first step in addressing and reversing disengagement.
2. Effective Communication: Establishing open and honest communication channels is essential. Julie emphasises the importance of regular check-ins, feedback sessions, and creating a safe space for employees to voice their concerns and ideas.
3. Growth and Development: Providing opportunities for professional growth and career advancement is crucial for maintaining engagement. Julie discusses how to create individualised development plans and offer training programs that align with both the clinic's goals and the employees' aspirations.

Whether you're a practice owner, manager, team leader, or employee, this episode offers valuable strategies to enhance engagement and help your team reach its full potential.

Could Your Kind of People recognise Their Kind of Clinic?

A job ad may catch a vet’s or nurse’s eye. But it’s their own due diligence that determines whether they apply—or keep in touch.

Culture Story Centres turn real experiences from inside your team into credible, discoverable recruitment evidence, giving vets and nurses meaningful reasons to choose your clinic.

Explore Culture Story Centres for veterinary clinics