Work for a stubborn cuss?
I've met a lot of great doctors. And I like them. As a group, I think veterinarians are among the nicest people on the planet. And, just like you, they have a special calling to help pets that sets them apart from other professionals. But that doesn't mean every doctor is a joy to work for or with. And I know they're not always that open to doing things differently.
I've met a lot of great doctors. And I like them. As a group, I think veterinarians are among the nicest people on the planet. And, just like you, they have a special calling to help pets that sets them apart from other professionals. But that doesn't mean every doctor is a joy to work for or with. And I know they're not always that open to doing things differently.
Marnette Falley
"Oh, I know team meetings are important," I've had at least 50 Dr. Joneses say to me. "But I just don't like to hold them." (Or "We just don't have time." Or "Our team does OK without." Or "We tried that for a while, but they didn't seem to do much.") "So we don't take the time."
Of course, whether we're talking about team meetings or new work strategies, we're hoping you can help provide some critical enthusiasm and organization—and get your doctors onboard. But I understand that you won't always get a yes when you take an idea to your boss. A 100 percent success rate isn't feasible. So don't make that your goal. Instead, celebrate when you get a yes more often—even if it's just occasionally.
We'll try to help by sharing strategies that your colleagues in practices nationwide use to get that new approach accepted. Or to get team members on the same page. Or to support the boss even while you try the polite work-around to achieve the goal at hand.
It won't always be easy. You won't always get your way, even when you know you're right. And you won't always get through a difficult conversation without someone getting mad. But happily, everyone can get better at communicating about both problems and opportunities. And the better you get, the smoother your day will be.
On a separate note, I want to sneak in a quick but sincere thank you to everyone who responded to our e-mail readership survey. The preliminary results show that you read and liked the launch issue, which helps us as we plan the next articles. Didn't get the survey?
Let us know what you're thinking by e-mailing: firstline@advanstar.com
Or write to:Firstline8033 FlintLenexa, KS 66214.
Marnette Falley, Editor
