Roles

Tantrums, crying, shouting-who can get any work done when your team is in a constant state of conflict? Emotional intelligence is your gateway to self-management. And when you manage yourself, you choose the path to a happier, more successful work life.

When you're faced with savage clients, you need to know which ones you can tame and which ones to release back into the wild.

Nervous pets are often problem pets during office visits. Here's help.

Call it goofy.

My boss plays favorites, offering special benefits to his wife, children, and friends who work at our practice. As a result, the other team members and myself often do his family's work as well as our own. I've tried to talk to my boss, and he joked that I should quit if I'm unhappy. Should I leave gracefully or try to make things work?

Be inspired as Associate Editor Amanda Wolfe blogs about her wellness training for a 5K, with advice from Veterinary Economics Advisory Board member Dr. Ernest E. Ward Jr.

Customize this Word document and put it in your employee manual.

Sheila Grosdidier discusses the importance of explaining pets' treatment options to clients.

Shawn McVey explains why your practice's appearance really matters.

There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but it only takes one of these missteps to send clients packing.

This surprise visitor taught one girl-and future veterinarian-that sorrow and sympathy aren't just human emotions.

I used to be afraid of flying on commercial flights. I eventually overcame that fear, but I was still terrified of small planes. I beat that in the pilot's seat.

In an exclusive roundtable discussion, consultants told Veterinary Economics how doctors can hold on to talented technicians and veterinary assistants.

Q. Who determines veterinary team members' pay increases-the practice manager or the owner?

Unfortunately, blaming an employee won't work if OSHA finds a violation. Here's how to protect yourself from being penalized for team members' mistakes.

The devil is in the details. So what are your clients noticing about your practice and team members?

Use this checklist to prepare for the day's appointments and predict clients' and pets' needs.

You're fabulous, of course, but are you doing enough to really shine?

Our practice does lab testing in-house and the results often vary. How can we boost our proficiency?

We're always so busy. How do we find time for regular staff meetings?

Think your practice is a zoo? Try visiting one. That's what the team at Sanford Animal Hospital in Sanford, N.C., did. Team members and their families took in the zoo at their leisure, then they met up at the outdoor pavilion for hot dogs, hamburgers, and all the fixin's.

We had one wild storm a few weeks ago. It was a Friday, and my dog, Sebastian, was scheduled for a regular exam. We were running late, so I was scrambling as I loaded my 2-year-old son, Donovan, in the back seat and coaxed the dog in behind him. Did I mention it was raining? The torrential kind. Sebastian hates thunderstorms, so I could see him trembling during the whole frantic drive.

I want to send a mailing to market our clinic's dental promotion. Our area of influence is about 2 miles, and that encompasses a population of about 200,000. How can I get the addresses of the households in a certain area or city? Do you know how to focus a mailing to a certain demographic to target people who might own pets?

Curb the 5 o'clock chaos with these simple steps to streamline your discharge appointments and send clients away happy.

It doesn't take a crystal ball to know who'll walk through your practice door next. All you really need is a meeting, says Cindie McDuffee, the office manager at Animal Hospital of Thousand Oaks in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Attending a national veterinary conference offers big payoffs, but it often isn't free-unless you're one lucky team member at Pet Care Veterinary Hospital in Virginia Beach, Va. Lori-Jo Havener, LVT, planned a contest to give the practice's technicians and assistants a chance to attend a national veterinary conference.

A twister with winds up to 205 mph, leveled Greensburg, Kansas on May 4. Veterinarians and other volunteers aided in the rescue of displaced pets. For an in-depth report see the June issue of DVM Newsmagazine. Photos by Brandon Chauncy.

Customizable Word document of a sample letter to send clients about the pet food recall.

Q. We're hiring a new team member. Can we specify "no smokers" in our classified ad?

How do you handle bad behavior from good pet owners? Use this advice to deal with your most difficult clients and keep messy exchanges to a minimum.