October 2024

In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education blog, guest blogger Randy Hall, Leadership Coach, Founder & CEO of VetLead, discusses why culture matters in your veterinary practice and how it drives innovation, ownership, and employee engagement for long-term success.

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3 Reasons the Culture in Your Veterinary Practice Matters by Randy Hall

By Randy Hall, Leadership Coach, Founder & CEO of VetLead

Successful veterinary leaders know that the culture of their practice shapes the decisions their team makes daily. Great leaders don’t leave culture to chance—they take ownership of it, because the right culture drives sustainable growth and success. The idea is to build it in a way that helps your team make the right choices, and it all starts with how you define and nurture that culture.

Defining Culture in a Veterinary Practice

The culture in your practice is more than just a set of rules or policies. It’s the shared values, beliefs, and behaviors that influence everything from how your team interacts with each other to how they care for patients. Think of it like a living organism—it changes, grows, and is influenced by external factors like new ideas and personalities. It’s the glue that holds your practice together.

But because culture is always changing, shifting it can feel overwhelming. Many practices approach culture change the same way they would any other challenge in the practice—like implementing a new procedure or upgrading technology. But it runs deeper. It’s not about checking off tasks or learning a new system. It’s about changing how people think.

Changing Culture Can Feel Overwhelming

The idea of taking on culture change can be daunting. The process can feel messy, and slow. And it can be easier to fall back on more familiar solutions—restructuring, introducing a new training program, or even reorganizing the practice. But while those might feel more comfortable, they won’t lead to the lasting change you need.

Culture is the foundation of your practice’s success. When you embrace culture change, you set your team up for growth and long-term sustainability. And when you see it in action, you’ll realize it’s worth the effort.

Why Culture Matters

What we do is driven by what we think. And when you shift how your team thinks, their actions naturally follow. Too many leaders focus on changing behavior without addressing the thoughts behind those behaviors. But real culture change starts with the right mindset, and that mindset begins with insight. Every sustainable change is sparked by a moment of clarity—an understanding of why a new way of thinking is needed. Just like every major discovery, insight fuels human change, whether it’s shifting how we lead others or how we approach our daily tasks.

Here are three reasons why culture matters in your veterinary practice:

1. Encourages Innovation

In many veterinary practices, there’s a lot of emphasis on avoiding mistakes. Team members often play it safe, trying to keep the boss happy and avoid making waves. But playing it safe can lead to mediocrity.

Think back to when you were a kid on the playground. Kids don’t play to avoid mistakes, they run around without a care in the world. Sure, they’ll fall sometimes, but they aren’t afraid to take risks. That fearless attitude is what we need in our practices. When you create a culture that encourages innovation, your team won’t be afraid to push boundaries and try new things. They’ll focus on what’s possible, not just on avoiding mistakes.

2. Creates Ownership and Accountability

Lasting change doesn’t happen because your team “buys in” to your ideas. It happens when they feel like those ideas belong to them. People don’t fully commit to change when they just agree to it—they need to feel ownership over it.

Many leaders try to achieve ownership by convincing their team to get on board, but that’s not enough. Real ownership happens when your team feels connected to the change, when it feels like their idea, not just yours. When they take ownership of the culture, they also become accountable for the success of the practice.

3. Drives Employee Engagement

Imagine a practice where your team feels excited to show up every day. They’re not just clocking in and going through the motions—they’re engaged, motivated, and ready to tackle whatever comes their way. That’s what employee engagement looks like, and it’s a direct result of the right culture.

Engaged employees care about what they contribute to the practice. They’re invested in its success and excited about their role in it. They greet clients with enthusiasm, handle patient care with dedication, and are willing to go above and beyond. And when you foster a culture that makes them feel valued and connected, they’ll give their best effort every time.

How to Move Toward the Culture You Want

As a leader, you have the power to shape the culture of your practice. The first step? You get to go first. If you want to change the culture, you have to embrace the change yourself. Show your team what the new culture looks like in action.

Believe in Your Team

One of the most rewarding parts of leadership is watching your team grow and develop. But growth doesn’t come without challenges. Your team will make mistakes, stumble, and struggle as they learn. That’s part of the process, and it’s something you need to expect and support.

Believe in your team, even when they fall short. Encourage them to keep trying and push through the tough moments. Growth happens when they’re allowed to make mistakes and learn from them.

Focus on Progress Over Mistakes

How you respond to failure matters. Yes, it’s important to address mistakes, but it’s more important to focus on what comes next. When your team makes mistakes, don’t fixate on what went wrong. Instead, focus on how they can move forward.

Creating a culture of progress means recognizing that failure is a step on the path to success. Your team will make mistakes—sometimes big ones. But those mistakes are opportunities for learning and growth. Help them see failure as part of the journey, not something to avoid at all costs.

Building a Culture That Drives Success in Your Veterinary Practice

Culture isn’t something you can afford to ignore in your veterinary practice. It shapes the way your team thinks, acts, and ultimately, how your practice grows. By building a culture that encourages innovation, ownership, and engagement, you can create an environment where both your team and your practice thrive. Remember, change begins with you—lead by example, embrace the process, and watch your team grow.

 

Randy Hall VetLead
Author Bio:
Randy Hall, Founder & CEO, VetLead
Randy spent over 15 years of his career in the animal health industry. Since founding his consulting business in 2009, he has worked with thousands of veterinary hospital leaders and staff members to help them capture their full potential of their own veterinary practices.

This VETgirl online veterinary continuing education blog is written by VetLead. Please note the opinions in this blog are the expressed opinion of the author(s), and not directly endorsed by VETgirl.

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