We Want YOU!!!

I’m doing a couple of management lectures at the upcoming CVC in Washington, DC.  I’m picturing the room.  The last time I did a management lecture to a bunch of technicians, there were eight people in the room.   A lively, interested group, but still there were just 8 bodies in one big room with lots of chairs to spare.

Many veterinary technicians don’t believe that their roles and leadership/management mix.  Their role is patient/client care and that’s where their responsibilities end.  Many are thrilled with the border.

But truth be told, licensed veterinary technicians (just like associate veterinarians ) will be asked to lead not just once, but many times during their career and it’s a responsibility they should embrace.

Working collectively under one roof, dovetailing the efforts of say 8-60…in some case 100-200… veterinary-health-care professionals into one collective, successful effort at great patient and client care is extremely challenging.  We fail at delivering the kind of consistent, mistake-free service we hope to provide, not because members of our team our uninterested, but because a lack of organization and leadership have all of us well-intended people at cross purposes and getting in each other’s way.

Leadership is not just telling people what to do and it’s not being the bad guy.  It’s keeping your eye on the goals and moving a group of individuals towards those goals.  The most successful leaders don’t make enemies in the process, but end up making people feel great about their efforts and encourage individuals to learn and stretch.  They give them an opportunity to top their past accomplishments.

Successful leaders have also spent time being self reflective, because accomplishing the above is a tall, tall order.  You can’t do it unless you’ve reviewed your own behavior and idiosyncrasies to discover what aspects of your own personality might be thwarting the group’s efforts.  Successful leaders work as much on themselves as they do on their group’s goals.

Successful leaders can chart progress not just in their practice’s goals, but in their life’s goals as well, because successful leadership skills bleed into one’s personal life.  Finances improve, relationships improve, old habits get trod down, better and new beginnings awake. 

Yes, there are spreadsheets involved.  Unfortunately you may have to bring a calculator and it’s very likely that you’ll have to remember an employment law or two, but if I’m at the head of the class, I promise you a good time.  And if you embark on the journey by yourself, for whatever reason miss this year’s CVC,  then you can always spot Debbie Hill or Brian Conrad or any of the other fine CVPMs out there at another conference who will be able to give you a helping hand with flourish.   I look forward to meeting all of you at the end of the week!

(Can’t attend the CVC?…check out other upcoming lectures by Halow Consulting)