Soda for a smile: A game for impressing clients

Every veterinary clinic has a "Mrs. Madeline Madasheck"—the surly client who has brought more than one employee to tears. It seems like no matter what you do, she'll leave everyone upset by the end of each visit.

Congratulations to this month's Pet Picassos WINNER! (Tretra Images/Getty Images)

The next time you see this client's name on the appointment schedule, make a friendly wager with a co-worker. If one of you can make that client simply smile, the other pays for a soda or lunch at a nearby restaurant the next day. You'll find that a compliment on a piece of jewelry or clothing—or better yet, on their pet—are all simple ways to coax a smile out of even the crankiest clients. You may also find that it makes you feel good, and you'll help build or perhaps repair relations with that client.

There may not be a way to please every client every time, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. At the very least, you'll get a free soda every now and then.

—Susan Logan, CVT

Mesa, Ariz.