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)

April Calendar of Continuing Education

Hey Everyone, here is the Continuing Education Class Calendar for April 2011

Here's how you do it:  For an invitation to this live webinar, send an email to bash@halowconsulting.com and provide a list of those members of your team who will be attending. One email per terminal please, so if you have more than one employee at one desktop, you only need to provide one email address of one of the attendees who will be at that terminal.  Once we receive your note, you will be provided with a link to make a 35 dollar payment to PayPal.  This payment covers all the members of your team and there is no limit on the number from one hospital that can attend.  Once we receive payment, we’ll provide you with an electronic invite to use when signing onto the class.  If you have additional questions, send us an email at the above address.   We look forward to seeing you there!

April 12^th, 1pm  Diarrhea in Dogs and Cats.  This class gives receptionists and veterinary assistants a solid understanding of the common reason pets get diarrhea.  We spend a great deal of time explaining why a visit to a veterinarian for diarrhea cases is important and how it can save both the pet and the owner a lot of needless discomfort and concern.  This class comes with a great triage sheet that team members can use on the phone to assist in booking the appointment and explaining the need for a visit.

April 12^th, 3pm  Endoparasites.  With so many of us sending out fecal samples to laboratories and seeing an increase in positives, it’s important for all of our team members to know about the endoparasites we are identifying.  This class is not just the medicine behind the parasite, however; but handouts on the common medications we use to treat infections as well as information our team members can share with clients to convince owners to take precautionary steps against infection.

April 27^th, 1pm  Restraint for the Receptionist and Assistant.  This class, complete with photos, discusses safety measures all of us should use when working with animals.  We cover basic interaction with our patients in the lobby, removing patients from and placing them into carriers, restraining patients for catheters and blood draws, restraining patients for examinations, and removing patients from cages.   We also discuss the tools we have at our practices to keep us safe and how best to use them.