Technicians

As Stuart Smalley would say, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!" Since most of us don't get out of bed each morning repeating this phrase, let your teammates remind you with this activity.

Even if you try to regularly thank your team for a job well done, people still enjoy a few minutes of solely hearing praise. In this exercise, you can learn more about how team members view themselves in contrast to how their fellow teammates view them. It's all positivity--no calling out weaknesses--making it fun for all involved.

Actionable steps to make stepping away from your veterinary clinic actually work.

Use this handout to build pet owners' awareness about pain in their pets.

The pitfalls of trying to be everything to everyone in your veterinary clinice

Walk off your stressand give a pooch a chance to stretch her legs.

Watch as Tasha McNerney talks with Kenichiro Yagi about his career path from introvert to national speaker.

Help clients do the best they can for their pets.

When pet owners struggle with the choice of deciding when it's time to euthanize, suggest this exercise.

Team grateful for community support as it cares for animals in need.

Heres a cats-eye-view of a feline fine exam where the cat gets the power to choose how he experiences a visit to the veterinarian.

"Help clients who make the difficult choice to euthanize their pet by approaching the associated costs with sincere consideration," says Sharon DeNayer, a Firstline Editorial Advisory Board member and the clinic manager at Windsor Veterinary Clinic in Windsor, Colo.

Recognizing your VIPs-Very Important Pets-with a VIP greeting is a great way to connect with clients from the minute they step into your veterinary practice.

Veterinary practice managers, use this quick quiz from the VHMA to check your role in managing the money at your practice. (Psst. You can also ask your practice owners to take the quiz to remind them of the valuable financial skills you can bring to the table.)

When you give the veterinary profession all youve got, it can be exhausting if you dont feel like its making a difference. I didnt realize the depths of what I was feeling until the symptoms hit.

When I turned 70 in 2011, people started asking me if I was going to retire. Now that I am 73, friends ask when Im going to retire.

Diagnosing the source of your frustration at your veterinary practice can lead to the right treatmentand even a cure for whats ailing you.

What tasks is this vital team member responsible for at your veterinary practice?

Consider these job descriptions for receptionists, inventory managers and practice managers.

youre one of the 60% of Firstline readers who overall feel happy at work. In fact, 44% of you are happier than you were five years ago. But some of you are hurtingand it can be a very serious hurt. Heres a closer look:

From kennel attendant to veterinarian, everyone can keep an eye on pets' oral health

Get the veterinarian on board for the health of practice and pets

Whether your practice sees exotic pets or you simply field a phone call every now and then, arm your team to educate clients on exotic pet care using these tools.

Youre putting on a show in the exam room, but are you award-winning or blooper reel ready?

How can a fictional superhero inform your veterinary clinic demeanor? Hint: It starts with your posture.

Dont let theft steal the sunshine from your practice. Find out how to address it when it happensand steps you can take to deter theft before it occurs.

Whether your veterinary practice is rural, suburban or urban, your fee structure determines how well your practice competes with surrounding practices. Use these steps to identify the right fees for your practice.