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Dress for Success

 

Did you ever hear that phrase, dress for success?

When I go to the dog show, I have a special collar and lead that Mom puts on me that make me feel special. What does dress for success even mean in a world where you wear scrubs all day? It means that you should wear clothes that make you feel powerful, competent and successful.

Maybe it’s a certain brand of scrubs, or a certain color of Crocs, or putting a lab coat with your name on it over your scrubs when meeting with clients. Whatever makes you feel good when you put it on, wear it and let it pump you up.

I’m Kacey and I love veterinarians!

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Become a Model Leader

 

Great relationships – like great marriages – happen because people choose where to focus. People get along for a while and then they start noticing things they don’t like. Instead of focusing on what they do like, they get fixated on what they don’t like. Before you know it, feuds are happening on the team, feelings are getting hurt, and more accidents and absenteeism plague your hospital.

Here’s a way to help get your people focused on each other’s strengths – praise one person a day behind their back. Tell the receptionist how good the kennel manager is at following each pet’s protocol. Tell a technician who’s assisting you what a great job the hospital manager does at juggling the schedule.

Make sure the praise is true, and that the people you tell and those you praise change daily. By demonstrating how you focus on your team’s strengths you model great behavior for your staff.

I’m Sandy Weaver and just like Kacey,...

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Don't Fight Change

 

Don’t fight change.

Well, actually, it’s good not to fight about anything if you can help it – fighting just gets you a bite on the nose from some mean dog that can’t take a joke!

Seriously, change is the one constant in this world – it’s funny that humans hate it so much. Everything changes and change keeps the world from being boring. Can you imagine what life would be like without change…nothing would ever happen. Babies wouldn’t grow up – heck, they wouldn’t even get born, because they sure change a LOT in 9 months!

Change is good. Embrace change. Change is the thing that keeps life interesting. Even when it looks not very good, you can probably find a thing or two to like about it.

I’m Kacey and I love veterinarians!

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Decision Fatigue

 

If I have to make one more decision today I’m gonna snap!! Do you ever feel that way, too? Squeaky ball or bungee snake? Nap in the crate, on the kitchen tile floor or on the couch? Sheesh…so many things to decide!

Decision fatigue is a thing – really! I’ve heard Mom tell people about how decisions become harder the later in the day it becomes…maybe that’s why humans sometimes decide to sleep on something important before deciding.

If you feel like you’ve made too many decisions, it’s probably because you have. Delegate what you can, delay what you can and only deal with what you feel good about dealing with. Tomorrow morning you’ll be rarin’ and ready to decide better.

I’m Kacey and I love veterinarians!

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Bullies in the Hospital

 

Do you have a staffer in your hospital who’s a bully? Sadly, that’s very common in veterinary hospitals and is very destructive for morale.

It’s like when mom and I go to the park for a walk and that big border collie stares at me really hard – it makes me nervous and it’s hard to concentrate. That’s how your people feel when a staffer bullies them – they’re always on edge and even a bit unfocused.

This is true about bullies – they are that way because they are insecure. When Mom works with hospital teams that have a bully, she encourages them all to share what they appreciate about each other. When you focus on what’s good about team members even the bully feels heard, seen and appreciated. 

I’m Kacey and I love veterinarians!

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Appreciate You

 

Some days do you feel unappreciated? Who knew mom would be so upset when I brought her that pretty red leather shoe. I only chewed it a little bit and I did give it to her…sheesh, you’d think I started world war three or something!

Anyway, if you’re feeling unappreciated too, give yourself a little present. Buy some flowers for your desk or your kitchen at home…download a new book to read or listen to…go get a decadent coffee. Appreciate yourself and don’t worry about whether anyone else appreciates you or not. Here’s a secret – they do, but they’re human and forgot to tell you that.

I’m Kacey and I love veterinarians.

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Are You an Adapter or a Leader?

 

Are you an adapter or a leader?

Adapters are chameleons – they scope out the lay of the land and blend in. Leaders scope out the lay of the land, see what needs doing and set about doing it. That’s why you often hear people say that certain leaders have great vision – they’re on the lookout for ways to improve processes and the people who implement them.

Great leaders support the people who get things done while adapters often throw their people under the bus when the going gets tough. When you support your people and encourage their professional growth you create a team that has your back. And that’s especially important during a crisis. 

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Want to be Fascinating? It's All About Learning

 

What new thing are you learning? Does it excite you? I love to learn new things – mom says I’m a fast learner with a short attention span. Someday I’ll learn what she means by that. Anyway, learning is great – it keeps you focused and fascinated.

In your work you probably learn something new pretty often but that’s not what I’m talking about – learn something that might not even have anything to do with animals. Maybe it’s a new language or how to knit or even golf – learning something new is a great way to decompress and de-stress.

I’m Kacey and I love veterinarians!

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Are You in Your Workplace?

 

Look around your workplace – are you there? If you looked around my place you’d see stuffed toys, a hard rubber chew or two and you’d know I’m a dog that loves toys. When people look around your workplace do they know what you love?

If you love kayaking, do they see pictures of rivers you’ve been on? If you love the ocean do they see seashells? If you love travel do they see pictures of the places you’ve been? Celebrate you at work – decorate your workplace with pieces of your life besides your work.

I’m Kacey and I love veterinarians!

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How Squinting Helps You and Those Who See you Feel Better

 

Aren’t smiles cool? Even us dogs smile and humans know just what we mean when we do. Mom knew a dog a loooong time ago who squinted like crazy when she smiled – she used her whole face!

Do you use your whole face when you smile? You know you do when those little muscles at the outside of your eyes make you squint a little bit too – those are the best smiles on humans and on dogs. Next time you smile, make sure your eyes are smiling too. You’ll be flooding yourself and the person you’re smiling at with feel-good endorphins.

I’m Kacey and I love veterinarians!

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