Speaking the language of honeybees

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On this week's episode of The Vet Blast Podcast, Tiffany L. Ayres, CVPM, and host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, discuss how veterinary management teams can learn from the honeybees social structure and communication skills to help combat the issues veterinary clinics and professionals face daily.

Below is a partial transcript.

Adam Christman, DVM, MBA: What's the hardest lesson that you learned as a manager?

Tiffany L. Ayres, CVPM: I would say empowering my employees to be successful and to fail. The failure part was the hardest lesson for me to learn, allowing my employees to fail without intervening. Of course, this is not failing at the detriment of health or safety. But this stumble allows for growth and development of the employee. Some of our best lessons are learned by making our own mistakes. Early in my veterinary management career, I was fortunate to manage a hospital where the owner gave me the reins and allowed me to manage. I owe Dr Douglas Schmidt so much as he handed over the reins of his hospital, which then, in turn, allowed him to practice medicine.

This leadership partnership established a positive environment one, that we were able to identify team members strengths and interest and optimize their skill sets. It was a win win equation. And in this type of environment, a few things are accomplished. Team members are responsible and accountable for their projects. They know what to do, how to do it, and pitch in to help others. And in this environment, it also promotes the accomplishments of several projects or enhancements occurring simultaneously, certainly much more than one person just driving that productivity.