National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues - News Feeds

Training and motivation strategies

• Ross Clark to practice owners: Open your books to associates and team members
  Lead your practice with its future ownership in mind.
  
• Veterinarian-free office visits: Technician appointments
  Examples of services technicians may be able to provide in technician-only appointments.
  
• Nutrition veterinary technician specialty announced
  Chair of the new Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians, Kara Burns, left, stands with the chair of the NAVTA Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties, Amy Butzier, CVT, (VTS Equine).
  
• 5 traits team members love in practice owners and managers
  Sinking team morale with negativity is out. Positive support is in.
  
• BizQuiz: Are you educating your veterinary team?
  Take this quiz and find out whether your veterinary practice is a house of learning or an education-free zone.
  
• Practice smarter, not harder, to master new skills
  When dreaming up new training methods for your veterinary team members, include a diverse set of activities and drills for maximum effectiveness.
  
• Take time for veterinary team training
  The benefits of continuing education—a more qualified team and motivated employees are among them.
  
• Cats or dogs: What's your preference?
  The lowdown on which species veterinarians and veterinary team members prefer to work with, why—and if it matters.
  
• Send a consistent message when you make management choices
  Get members of your leadership team on board with changes before implementing them in your veterinary practice.
  
• 4 ways to ward off fraud at your veterinary practice
  Protect your veterinary practice from employee embezzlement, forgery, robbery, and more.
  
• Entitled employees experience more job frustration
  Veterinary team members who feel superior to others at work are more likely to lash out at their coworkers and engage in other abusive behaviors.
  
• Q&A: Ramp up rewards to motivate your veterinary team
  Other than bonuses or financial incentives, how can I reward team members for a job well done?
  
• The quest for veterinary mentorship
  Four ways to find the right veterinarian mentor and get the most out of this valuable relationship
  
• The veterinary technician's role in equine deworming (sponsored by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health)
  Empower your veterinary technicians to take over this valuable profit center and help your practice grow.
  
• 3 Cs of a team-friendly veterinary practice
  Veterinary team members need these three things to thrive at work.
  
• Spending time in nature can revitalize the human mind
  If white walls and dull floors make your veterinary facility look industrial, consider bringing in a little greenery to energize your employees.
  
• Q&A: Recognize your hard workers
  Other than bonuses or financial incentives, how can I reward team members for a job well done?
  
• 3 research-proven ways to inspire and motivate employees
  Team members say these three things will pick up productivity and excite enthusiasm.
  
• In the trenches
  Personal experience is the most eye-opening insight to rural vet shortage.
  
• Rural veterinary shortage caused by retention issues, not attraction
  National Report — Two companion studies that delve into the motivations to enter and leave rural veterinary practice could provide key insights for recruiters and veterinary colleges trying to sway incoming veterinarians into practicing in underserved areas.
  
• I survived: Managing a veterinary practice merger
  We experienced headaches, setbacks, and eventually practice success.
  
• Cheaters may prosper in your bonus system
  Study finds pre-set practice goals for employee bonuses could lead to fudging.
  
• BizQuiz: Are you a social-media maven or a Web wipeout?
  Videos, friending, and tweets: Get hip to the newest way to reach potential and current veterinary clients.
  
• Sample social media policy
  Set team members on the right social-media trick at your practice with this customizable policy.
  
• Commentary: The dangers of not delegating
  Sometimes we just can't help ourselves. But then we end up paying the price.
  
• Train your team with your on-hold message
  Your on-hold message can be a valuable training tool.
  
• The price of pain
  Will the economy will force more clinics into reporting more injuries?
  
• Be ready for your boards
  No, not the exam kind — the cork kind. Boost team education with old-fashioned bulletin boards
  
• What you know could hurt you
  Research shows that people choose quick payoffs over long-term results, even when they know better.
  
• Throw team members a bone for outstanding effort
  Recognize teamwork with this simple reward.
  
• Use one-on-one meetings to build a buzz with your team
  A quick 15-minute talk can keep you informed and keep your team members motivated.
  
• Improve staff retention with employee referrals
  Not getting the results you'd like from your own employee search? An employee referral program might help you build your dream team.
  
• Q&A: Explaining vaccinations to clients
  After explaining core vaccines, ask questions about the pet's and client's lifestyle.
  
• 10 answers to your HR questions
  Test your knowledge of human resources and tweak your procedures to keep out of the doghouse.
  
• Clinical practice veterinary technician specialties announced
  The first certification tests could come as early as next year.
  
• Q&A: Make work less miserable
  Our team sees work as 'just a job.' How can I create a more fun—and productive—atmosphere?
  
• Technician appointments: Do your part, and reap the rewards
  Every team member has a part to play in starting technician appointments at your practice.
  
• Veterinary technician appointment guidelines
  Practice manager Kyle Palmer, CVT, offers guidelines for technician appointments, transitioning from technician to doctor appointments, and more.
  
• Q&A: Taming team member tardiness
  Short of termination, how can I discipline a team member who is habitually late for her shift?
  
• BizQuiz: Are you a great employee?
  Find out whether you're an indispensable employee, an adequate assistant, or a terrible team member.
  
• Q&A: Promoting a healthy lifestyle among team members
  My team members get sick a lot. How can I promote a healthier lifestyle among our staff?
  
• 4 fun tips for team-building and fund-raising
  Hula hoops, balloons, and pictures with Santa are ways into your team members' and clients' hearts.
  
• 9 tips for using your team more effectively
  How to get your team management skills up to speed.
  
• The dvm360 Five - Episode 8
  The Five is live from NAVC: new nutrition guidelines from AAHA, insights to get associates up to speed fast, and more.
  
• How to conduct a time study
  Five steps for analyzing outpatient flow in your practice.
  
• Overhaul outcome: Finding the tools for success
  Practice Management Overhaul winners reveal what they've learned throughout the process and how it's transformed their practice.
  
• Extras for externship students
  Need activities to fill a student's down time? Try these.
  
• One sweet reward for a job well done
  Recognize great work with a choice of a sweet treat.
  
• Veterinary technician externship guidelines
  Follow this advice for training student veterinary technicians during an externship.
  
• 4 ways to add value to employee evaluations
  Don't put off the tough—but rewarding—task of talking shop with veterinary team members.
  
• Studies say compassion works in your favor
  Do you care? Good -- that can translate into good feelings and respect from others.
  
• Employees may perform better in smaller groups
  A new study shows that more competitors doesn't necessarily result in stronger competition.
  
• How by-the-bootstraps veterinary technicians can get ahead
  No credential doesn't mean no future for veterinary assistants and technicians with experience.
  
• Build staff confidence through certificates
  Certified thank-yous lead to big payoff.
  
• Show respect for patients in the words you use
  Would you talk about your grandma that way?
  
• Video: How to set goals for team members
  Dr. Nan Boss, owner of Best Friends Veterinary Center in Grafton, Wisc., offers advice for motivating team members and giving them something to work toward.
  
• Video: How to give effective feedback
  Dr. Amanda Donnelly, MBA, shares three tips to making the most of feedback when delegating tasks.
  
• Teach your team to reinforce your recommendations
  Our team members aren't salespeople. How can we teach them to reinforce our recommendations to clients?
  
• Connect team members with employee intranet
  Keep team members up to date with this handy online tool.
  
• What makes a team strong?
  Successful groups share certain traits. Find out what they are and how to develop them.
  
• Bring the outdoors inside to promote better living
  A new study proves that nature makes people more caring.
  
• Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald: Encouragement is the currency of success
  Encourage team members to promote an environment of confidence.
  
• Video: Tips from the trenches on training team members
  Dr. Nan Boss offers advice for communicating effectively with team members.
  
• Shawn McVey's powers to be on display at CVC San Diego
  Spend the day with this eerily insightful management consultant as he uncovers the issues impeding your success.
  
• What it takes to deflate your career expectations
  If Robert Frost had had a career counselor, perhaps he would have taken the road more travelled. At least, that's what recent research suggests. Two new studies show that only when faced with harsh realities do people begin to question their picturesque view of their abilities, and opt for a more beaten-down career path.
  
• 5 ways to benefit from online team CE
  Put down the pencil and pick up a mouse for a new way to educate employees.
  
• Enforcement of federal ID theft rules starts Nov. 1
  National Report — Cases of identity theft, like those that took place at Kettering Animal Hospital, are not uncommonc, and are a reminder of how important it is to make plans to fight identity theft early on.
  
• What the nurse shortage could mean for the veterinary industry
  Recent graduates are leaving the nursing field after being met with overwhelming challenges. Could your team members do the same?
  
• Delegation: Do it right
  Managers: You need to delegate more. Here's how to do it right.
  
• Video: How to make team members feel respected
  A common complaint among veterinary team members is lack of respect in the workplace. Mark Opperman, CVPM, offers advice on how to properly communicate staff appreciation.
  
• Helping team members be their best: Implementing change in the hospital (Proceedings)
  An organizational culture consists of the values, beliefs, traditions, attitudes and behavior of the practice and the people that work in it.
  
• The benefits of employee engagement for your practice (Proceedings)
  The 2008 Employee Engagement Report published by BlessingWhite, a global consulting firm, found that only 29% of employees in North America are engaged and 19% of employees are actually disengaged.
  
• How to use effective feedback when delegating job tasks (Proceedings)
  Veterinary owners and managers often convey frustration about job performance inconsistencies and failure of some employees to complete job tasks.
  
• Make compliance personal
  Provide staff opportunity to trial new or recommended products to boost team and client compliance.
  
• Developing your managerial skills motivation: Part 2 (Proceedings)
  Let's discuss what we can do in our practices to motivate our team and practice environment.
  
• Staff empowerment (doctor leverage) increases veterinary practice success (Proceedings)
  Veterinary practice success today is about relationships between the client and the veterinary practice team.
  
• Helping team members be their best: Appraisals and goal setting (Proceedings)
  Somewhere along the way, good veterinary team members figure out that one of the most important components of our jobs is to be a teacher.
  
• Love 'em & leave 'em
  Why team members are walking away from jobs they enjoy.
  
• Helping team members be their best: Individual training and CC (Proceedings)
  Somewhere along the way, good veterinary team members figure out that one of the most important components of our jobs is to be a teacher.
  
• Motivation: Only as good as managers' plans
  Study finds that motivational techniques only work when they come with clear goals and urgency to change.
  
• Boost productivity by meeting team members' needs
  Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs fits well in management.
  
• Quiz: 20 questions
  How well do you know practice finances?
  
• Will work for tips
  Don't hear praise through the grapevine.
  
• Six ways to coach your talent
  Now more than ever, your employees should strive for improved practice efficiency. Teach them how.
  
• Parasitology: What's your role?
  Do your part to demolish parasites.
  
• Funds and games
  Make a good time out of teaching employees about the bottom line with these four team-building contests.
  
• What's your role? How you can protect pets and people from parasites
  Everyone in practice has a part to play in protecting pets?and people?from parasite-related diseases.
  
• Audio tip: Communicate your practice's vision
  Dr. Christine Merle encourages you to talk with your team about the history and vision of your practice.
  
• Green sheets help show recognition for a job well done
  Going above and beyond earns a pat on the back.
  
• Congratulations for a job well done
  Give team members a pat on the back for a job well done with "green sheets."
  
• Motivation and delegation – Keys to your personal success (Proceedings)
  What is motivation?
  
• Beef up clinic brainstorming
  Motivate your veterinary team to generate new ideas.
  
• Play to win—as a team
  Be a team player.
  
• Offer percentives
  Reward staff for catching missed fees.
  
• Updating your employee manual (Proceedings)
  An employee handbook provides guidelines for employees including rules of the practice, employee conduct, safety information and benefits offered.
  
• Let employees surf the Web
  Allowing employees to take short Internet breaks helps them reduce stress and think more clearly.
  
• Raises out, bonuses in
  If you can't afford to give raises, use bonuses to keep employees happy.
  
• Q&A: How to motivate underperforming employees
  It's your job to help team members understand their role in your practice and strive to become better workers.
  
• Colors can influence work habits
  Use warm colors to help your employees focus and cool colors to inspire creativity.
  
• Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald: We don't do this alone
  We veterinarians thrive through the success of our technicians.