6 Tips for Veterinary Practice Managers

Look after the team

Everyone appreciates great communication and understanding what the expectations in the workplace are. For example, understanding what their working hours are, how to book time off, and whether additional hours worked will be paid or returned in lieu. Having these details readily available improves productivity and morale.

Optimize time management

Prioritize calls and emails – don’t respond to every notification as it appears, as you can become easily distracted and less efficient. Finish one task, then reset – if you can focus on one thing rather than moving from task to task, you will be more productive. Do the most challenging tasks when your brain is fresh, and not at the end of the day.?

Delegate

Efficient time management is hard if you’re swamped – learn to delegate and share tasks. Being trusted with responsibility is empowering for staff, and frees up your time for the jobs only you can do.?

Set Goals

Set bite sized goals you aim to achieve throughout the day. For example, responding to emails first thing from 8am-9am, and then move onto completing two staff reviews by 10am. Set and share larger goals with your team, so they can experience the sense of achievement upon completion, and it also fosters a team oriented mentality when you are all working towards the same goal. For example, reaching a particular level of clinic accreditation by the end of the year by all of your staff doing their part during the accreditation process.

Prioritize quality service

If you have a happy and engaged team, delivering quality service is more straightforward. Encourage best practices and lead by example. Job satisfaction will be heightened, and client complaints will be minimized – which in the end, is a huge time saver!

Keep an eye on the figures

If you get other parts of the practice puzzle right, demand and profit will be easier to achieve. You must have a working knowledge of your clinics financial performance, so you can identify and troubleshoot any issues when they arise.?

Becky Nicholson - has worked as a vet in the South West of England since graduating in 2011. Having worked with farm animals and horses in the past, Becky now works solely with pet animals.?She particularly enjoys caring for elderly patients and those with long-term health conditions.