Associate mentorship: Topics to review during the first year
Tackle training month by month to bring a new veterinarian up to speedand make sure youve covered all the important areas of practice leadership.
A new associate's first weeks on the job can be frantic as the doctor learns your practice's daily routine, gets to know the staff and starts seeing clients. To make sure you don't overlook an important area of training and mentorship, spend some time each month discussing a topic that's important to the practice's health and success. Here's a sample calendar to follow.
Month 1
Medical protocols and standards of care
Month 2
Financial management, practice finances and budgeting
Month 3
Leadership skills development (read a management or leadership book together)
Month 4
Practice culture and how to change, if necessary
Month 5
Model behaviors displayed by staff and how to encourage such behaviors
Month 6
Strategy: Where do you both see the practice several years from today?
Month 7
Clients: Why do they come to your practice and how can you keep them returning?
Month 8
Current marketing methods (brainstorm new ideas)
Month 9
How can the practice get involved in the community?
Month 10
Continuing education for doctors and staff members
Month 11
Personal development and work-life integration: long-term ways to keep energy and enthusiasm high
Month 12
Physical plant, practice location and renovations that will lead to increased efficiency
