GRH Team Work

  Recent changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act banning XL Bully type dogs in England and Wales, which are to be replicated in Scotland, have posed a range of challenges for veterinary professionals. In this article, Rosie Allister considers some of the psychological and support aspects of the challenges veterinary professionals have experienced, consequences seen in veterinary workplaces, and what might help.

A member of staff’s relationship with their manager plays an important role in well being and effectiveness in the workplace. Considering your impact on this relationship and how it can be managed effectively will help to facilitate effective working.

There are many approaches to time management and it is important to take an objective approach to work out the method that works best for you.

A sustainable veterinary profession, capable of delivering the full remit of its services, requires individuals who are healthy, happy and fulfilled at work. This chapter examines what makes a good day in practice and highlights ways in which readers, by working together with colleagues, managers and practice owners, can have more good days in practice. Topics covered include physical wellbeing, purpose and autonomy in practice, performance feedback for personal growth, dealing with bullying and conflict, mitigators for workplace stress, personal strategies for thriving in practice and leadership of a wellbeing culture.

Very rarely do we work alone in the veterinary profession and outcomes aren’t purely down to one person or one approach – but how do you manage the individuals within the team and keep them working together and towards the same goals? How to do encourage confidence, self-leadership but without egos, siloed working and poor behaviours? This session discusses the importance of trust, psychological safety and the power of constructive challenge within a team. It shares tools to help you consider the level of mutual respect, to consider how conflict and challenge is handled and how you ensure you team are pulling together rather than pulling apart.