#136 Navigating Internal Conflict in Veterinary Hospitals

09/20/23 • 33 min

The Joyful DVM Podcast: Empowering Veterinary Professionals

Internal conflict in veterinary hospitals is a very common occurrence.

In addition to being super-uncomfortable to witness, it also has a very real and negative impact on client service and patient care.

Everyone who is aware of the conflict plays a part in its perpetuation if they don't speak up.

When we ignore the conflicts, or avoid them all together, we actually create space for them to continue to grow.

And make no mistake, ongoing conflict within a veterinary hospital is absolutely having a negative impact on client service and patient care.

Thankfully there are things each of us can do to help foster a pathway toward conflict resolution.

In this episode I share a process for diving conflict resolution including:

Avoiding gossiping about the conflict (this only makes it worse)
Not ignoring the conflict (it's having an impact, even when you ignore it)
Escalating awareness of the conflict to the appropriate level of leadership (don't assume they are aware its happening)
Gathering information (seek to understand both sides though individual conversations)
Identifying specific examples and impact (in the moment, people in conflict are often in tunnel vision and don't realize how they are behaving or being received)
Discussing together with both parties (create a safe place for them to share with each other)
Clarifying expectations for professional behavior (bring everyone back to the mission)
Following up with timely feedback in the weeks that follow (reinforce expectations as needed).

The bottom line is this...

As uncomfortable as it might be to have conversations about conflict, simply allowing the conflict to continue unaddressed is much much worse... for you, your team, your clients and your patients.

If this episode hits home, please consider sharing it with friend and leaving us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts!

For more information on how to Leverage The Space to protect your own emotional wellbeing when conflict occurs, check out Vet Life Academy.

https://joyfuldvm.com/vetlifeacademy

Music Credit: Music by Lesfm from Pixabay

Internal conflict in veterinary hospitals is a very common occurrence.

In addition to being super-uncomfortable to witness, it also has a very real and negative impact on client service and patient care.

Everyone who is aware of the conflict plays a part in its perpetuation if they don't speak up.

When we ignore the conflicts, or avoid them all together, we actually create space for them to continue to grow.

And make no mistake, ongoing conflict within a veterinary hospital is absolutely having a negative impact on client service and patient care.

Thankfully there are things each of us can do to help foster a pathway toward conflict resolution.

In this episode I share a process for diving conflict resolution including:

Avoiding gossiping about the conflict (this only makes it worse)
Not ignoring the conflict (it's having an impact, even when you ignore it)
Escalating awareness of the conflict to the appropriate level of leadership (don't assume they are aware its happening)
Gathering information (seek to understand both sides though individual conversations)
Identifying specific examples and impact (in the moment, people in conflict are often in tunnel vision and don't realize how they are behaving or being received)
Discussing together with both parties (create a safe place for them to share with each other)
Clarifying expectations for professional behavior (bring everyone back to the mission)
Following up with timely feedback in the weeks that follow (reinforce expectations as needed).

The bottom line is this...

As uncomfortable as it might be to have conversations about conflict, simply allowing the conflict to continue unaddressed is much much worse... for you, your team, your clients and your patients.

If this episode hits home, please consider sharing it with friend and leaving us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts!

For more information on how to Leverage The Space to protect your own emotional wellbeing when conflict occurs, check out Vet Life Academy.

https://joyfuldvm.com/vetlifeacademy

Music Credit: Music by Lesfm from Pixabay

Previous Episode

#135 Talking About Money in Vet Med

Money...

It's an inevitable component of the practice of veterinary medicine, and a potential source of anxiety for everyone involved.

As veterinary professionals, many of us get a little nervous talking about prices and going over estimates with our clients.

We brace ourselves for the "you're only in it for the money" statement we've heard so many times before.

It hurts. It's not true.

But what is true is that we all have our own opinions about the prices that we charge...

... and when we don't believe in the prices attached to our products and services, then recommending and selling those things feels really icky.

It adds a whole new level of pressure we didn't expect when we were in school...

A level we'd rather live without.

But why?

Because, just like our clients, we have our own financial situations.

We have our own budgets, our own expenses, and our own uncertainties about what things cost.

Also like our clients, we really care about the pets, and we want to help them... and it sucks when money seems to get in the way.

I've found one little sentence at the end of a pricing conversation makes all the difference.

It allows clients to physically relax, and veterinary professionals to release the pressure of the decision.

In this episode of the Joyful DVM Podcast, I dig into the three aspects of money that are creating the pressure we feel, and share the one sentence that releases the pressure so we can move forward together with our clients in providing the best care for their pets in the moment.

If this episode hits home for you, please share it with a friend and leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you're listening.

LInk:

VetMed; JOY CLUB

https://joyfuldvm.com/joyclub

Music Credit: Music by Lesfm from Pixabay

Next Episode

#137 "I read online that..."

When a client says, "I read online that..." many of us cringe.

Dread and frustration often bubble up.

We become defensive and impatient.

But why?

Today more than any time in history, information is easily available.

Unfortunately, misinformation is easily available, too.

However, it's not our job to police the internet.

Our job is to help the client and patient in front of us... that is all.
So what do we do when client begins sharing everything the internet told them, and maybe even trying to dictate how we treat their pet?

We start by taking a breath!

In this episode I share how you can navigate these interactions in a way that is powerful and professional for you, but also supportive of the client and patient in front of you.

A client who values information is a great client to have, and one you can always find common ground with when you are willing to both listen and share.

But remember this: You never have to compromise the way you practice medicine. Your approach to any case is yours alone to decide.

Clients can accept your recommendations, or not. That part you'll never control. But feeling frustrated about the information and perspective they arrive with... that part is always optional.

Take a listen and learn how you can gracefully navigate these conversations with your wellbeing intact and your mind at ease.
For more tips on improving your personal wellbeing, visit https://joyfuldvm.com/joyclub

Music Credit: Music by Lesfm from Pixabay

The Joyful DVM Podcast: Empowering Veterinary Professionals - #136 Navigating Internal Conflict in Veterinary Hospitals

Transcript

This transcript is auto-generated and may contain typos.
Hi there. I'm Dr. Cari Wise veterinarian, certified life coach and certified quantum human design specialist. If you are a veterinary professional looking to uplevel your life and your career or maybe looking to go in an entirely new direction, then what I talk about here on the Joyful DVM podcast is absolutely for you. Let's get started. Hello my friends. Welcome back to the Joyful DVM podcast. In this epis