Ditch Nitpicky Vet Staff Meetings

Pushing your staff into a stuffy room first thing in the morning, and reading them off a list of things to improve isn’t a productive way to run staff meetings.

You can tell from the tired, bored faces looking back at you that the staff is not engaged.

I’ve seen how disheartened staff are when they’re handed a nitpicky list of needed improvements and expected to just continue with their day.

You put your practice at risk with meetings that make your staff feel underappreciated and unmotivated.

Stop using staff meetings as an opportunity to criticize.

Turn them into a chance to communicate and connect with your staff on a regular basis.

Here are ways to make your staff meetings fun and productive:

• Educate Staff. Advance practice knowledge with educational speakers and opportunities at occasional staff meetings.

• Take Meetings Offsite. Create a fun, friendly environment by taking staff meetings offsite for quarterly retreats to dive into the details.

• Be Consistent. Open a healthy dialogue by having staff meetings consistently—weekly or monthly, not just when issues arise.

• Engage Staff. Encourage a staff discussion on practice goals or objectives. Perhaps you are considering a remodel? Where do they see the practice in five years?

Create an atmosphere open to meaningful discussion by setting up fun and engaging staff meetings.

When there is consistent, open dialogue with staff, it’s easier to discuss larger issues, like health insurance, fee structures, and more, without discouraging your staff.

Yes, we as leaders need to address the mistakes and issues that happen in every hospital. But let’s not make them the focus of every single staff meeting.

What’s stopping you from having more productive meetings with your staff? Tell me about it.