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Our guest today is Meghan Bingham, Vet Advisor at Granite Peak Associates. During our conversation, she emphasized the importance of realigning the team within a veterinary clinic to foster positive energy, professionalism, and psychological safety. Daily challenges such as cranky clients, the grief of euthanasia, and unfortunate medical mistakes can lead to negative attitudes, toxic behavior, and tension among team members. Recognizing signs like microaggression and pervasive negativity is crucial in identifying the need for a reset. Professionalism plays a pivotal role in this process, encompassing appropriate workplace conversations, a clean and neat appearance, and the use of professional language and correct medical terms. Meghan suggests using a “code word” as a gentle reminder for team members to maintain professional behavior without being overbearing.
Effective onboarding and communication are essential to maintaining a positive team dynamic. Revamping the handbook language to be engaging and easy to consume, along with including key words that capture attention, can significantly enhance focus and retention. Validating feelings while encouraging the team to move forward helps maintain morale. Providing space for team members to acknowledge their grief, such as through art therapy, can also mitigate tension. An “if this, then that” mentality fosters structured problem-solving without placing blame, promoting a supportive and collaborative environment.
During a team reset, it’s vital to collectively define professionalism and address the most significant issues. We recommend incorporating a professional and personal peak activity weekly or daily to keep the team’s energy positive. By implementing these strategies, clinics can create a more cohesive and positive work environment, ensuring both staff well-being and optimal patient care. You can find more from Meghan Bingham on her LinkedIn.
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What’s Inside
- Recognizing when your team needs to realign.
- What causes negativity and attention in a clinic?
- Using onboarding to inform and lead the team.
- Collaborating within the clinic to solve problems and reset.
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