Hire The Smile (Oculus Insights)

In this episode Katie and Mike talk about ways that leaders and managers can use communication, transparency and empathy to help maintain employee engagement and trust during an economic recession. This episode’s listener question asks how to set up and maintain personal boundaries when the boss expects after-hours client and colleague communication.

Links:

Managing Employees During Downturn

Supporting Employees In The Workplace

Lead Through Tough Times

3 Ways Leaders Prevent Ab Economic Recession From Becoming A Trust Recession

3 Steps To Prepare For The Engagement Recession

Do you know what your employees are thinking and feeling about how they are doing in their roles? When was the last time you delivered some genuine appreciation or maybe tackled some constructive feedback? Are you finding it challenging to make time for formal performance reviews? What if there was one simple trick to making all your feedback dreams come true?

In this episode, Mike and Katie talk about the benefits of two-way feedback and delve into the different types of one-on-one check-in meetings. We also answer a listener question related to how practice owners can deal with the challenges and burnout relating to practice ownership. 

Articles Mentioned:

Why People Crave Feedback and Why We’re Afraid to Give it

Want Fewer Employees to Quit? Listen to Them

Give Feedback Like a Coach

How to Conduct Stay Interviews

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall is joined by Kirsti Clarida, president of the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians (OAVT) to discuss the importance of RVT roles in vet practices and the regulations that OAVT provides.

Visit the OAVT website here

Articles Mentioned:

Doctors are trained to be kind and empathetic – but a ‘hidden curriculum’ makes them forget on the job

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline are joined by guest Dr. Stacey Cordivano, an equine veterinarian, practice owner and podcast host to The Whole Veterinarian. Together they discuss the importance of finding joy and continuous learning in veterinary practice.

Stay tuned for the end of the episode where we answer a listener question.

Important Links:

The Whole Veterinarian

Ask us an HR-related question  

In part two of our HR Program Fundamentals series, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss having a core purpose in your veterinary practice.

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss leaders who realize change is needed, how to be an involved leader and the roles leaders need to take for effective change.

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss developing a workplace culture of candour and vulnerability, otherwise known as Psychological Safety. The focus of the discussion is how reducing the fear of making mistakes in a veterinary practice is the gateway to nurturing a practice culture that is a safe place for growth and development for all.

Articles Mentioned:

4 Steps to Boost Psychological Safety at Your Workplace

Celebrating Errors Creates Psychological Safety In The Workplace

Blame Culture Is Toxic. Here’s How to Stop It.

In today’s episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline are joined by members of the Oculus team to share their 2022 predictions for the veterinary profession.

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline talk about the most wonderful time of the year…employee reviews. We discuss why employees dislike performance reviews, how they help employees improve, their importance to the company and how to implement them.

Articles Mentioned:

More Harm Than Good: The Truth About Performance Reviews

This Year, Performance Management Must Become Agile

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline are joined by guest Stacy LeBaron, Board Treasurer of the United Spay Alliance. The United Spay Alliance is a national animal welfare organization dedicated exclusively to promoting affordable, accessible, and timely spay/neuter services as the solution to the crisis of cat and dog homelessness. In this episode, we discuss people management in the non-profit sector vs. private practice, the shortage of veterinarians and more.

Links Mentioned:

United Spay Alliance

Feline Fix by Five Months

The Community Cats Podcast

 Understanding and Addressing Moral Distress

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline are joined by Oculus colleague, Dr. Rob Kieboom. Together they discuss the importance of finding the right candidate for your veterinary team and different employment processes.

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline are joined by guest, Dr. Farah Murrani, Practice Manager and Veterinary Surgeon at The Veterinary Hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Together, they discuss the process of hiring vets and what it’s like to be a practicing veterinarian in Dubai.

Articles Mentioned:

Why Companies Should Consider A Four-Day Workweek

In today’s episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss the great resignation, why people are leaving their jobs and what you can do to help attract and keep staff. 

Articles Mentioned:

Are we in a veterinary workforce crisis?

The Reason Behind the Great Resignation That No One Is Talking About

2022 Canada Salary Guide | Robert Half

Living wage by region

In this episode of Hire The Smile, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline begin the discussion of fundamental components of an HR Program, starting with core values in your vet practice.

In our last podcast episode of the year, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline review the most prominent articles and discussed topics on the podcast in 2021. 

Podcast Episodes and Articles Mentioned:

1.    Hire the Smile: Redefining Burnout

Podcast mentioned: Why Burnout Happens — and How Bosses Can Help

2.    Hire The Smile: Mindfulness to Prevent Veterinary Burnout with Dr. Tovah Caldwell

3.    Hire The Smile: Part 2 - Mindfulness to Prevent Veterinary Burnout with Dr. Tovah Caldwell

4.    Hire The Smile: Managing Toxic Employees

5.    Hire The Smile: Managing Disruptive High Performers in Your Vet Practice

Article mentioned: Managing a Top Performer Who Alienates Their Colleagues

6.    Hire The Smile: Step Up or Move On

Article mentioned: 5 Reasons Business Owners Don't Fire Bad Employees--and 5 Bigger Reasons Why They're Wrong Firing With Compassion

7.    Hire The Smile: From our Dream World to our Current Reality in Veterinary HR

Article mentioned: Stuck in the Middle: The Plight of Average Performers

8.    Hire The Smile: The Customer Isn’t Always Right

Article mentioned: The Customer Is Not Always Right

9.    Hire The Smile: Rethinking Compensation

Article mentioned: How poverty changes your mind-set

10. Hire The...

In this episode, Katie and Mike discuss simple strategies to help your practice stand out to job seekers – from how to write an engaging job posting to ways to ensure that your unique culture shines through the entire recruitment process. We also speak to Lee Baker from Veterinary Education Today about the excellent content we can look forward to at the VET Toronto Conference at the end of October. 

Writing the Perfect Job Ad

Pay Applicants for Job Interviews

Ways To Make Your Company Stand Out To Job Seekers

Attract Talent

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall is joined for a second episode with Dr. Tovah Caldwell to further discuss how mindfulness impacts the work-life of veterinarians. Together, they discuss three common themes developed in Tovah’s research: professional identity development, perspective taking and the mind-body connection

Katie and Mike define Quiet Quitting and debate whether it’s truly a new phenomenon or not. They go over the factors that seem to contribute to this new form of disengagement and talk about some strategies practices can employ to address it. This week’s Listener Question asks an excellent question about how to make a practice’s Core Values more “live” and relevant to employees’ day-to-day work lives.

Is Quiet Quitting A Response To Quiet Firing?

Why Quiet Quitting Is Nothing New 

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline are joined by Dr. Yteke Elte to discuss employee engagement. Dr. Yteke Elte is an equine veterinarian and team leader at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss mentorship in veterinary practice from defining what a mentor is, the benefits of having one and what qualities make a good mentor.

Articles Mentioned:

How Doctors Can Be Better Mentors

Physician Mentorship: Why It’s Important, and How to Find and Sustain Relationships - NEJM Career Center Resources

Don’t Let Mentoring Burn You Out

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline are joined by Dr. Joop Loomans to reflect on the 37th World Veterinary Association Congress in Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates.

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss multiple articles surrounding transparent salaries, the average performer, mass amounts of workers quitting their jobs and more.

Articles Mentioned:

This Company Makes All Employees’ Salaries, Appraisals, and Promotions Public

Stuck in the Middle: The Plight of Average Performers

A record number of workers are quitting their jobs, empowered by new leverage

This is what a profit margin squeeze looks like

In today’s episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss the contributing factors to veterinary practice owner burnout and provide valuable insight on what you can do to help minimize burnout.

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline talk about the importance of empathy and compassion in leadership.

We are excited to share two new segments to the podcast where we share some marketing insights, as well as answer listener questions related to HR.

Click here to submit a question anonymously.

Articles Mentioned

Empathy Is The Most Important Leadership Skill According To Research

Effective Leaders Move Beyond Empathy to Compassion

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss how you can help manage the strengths and weaknesses of veterinary staff.

To send an anonymous HR-related question to be answered on our podcast, head over to our website at https://www.oculusinsights.net/podcast

Articles Mentioned

To Unleash People's Strengths, Help Them Manage Weaknesses

Why HR has to make staff uncomfortable before they can grow

Developing Employees’ Strengths Boosts Sales, Profit, and Engagement

In this episode Dr Pownall and Katie Ardeline have a discussion surrounding these two articles: 

4 Things My New Manager Did That Caused Me To Quit

The biggest lie in HR - People leave managers not companies - Culture Amp Blog

Followed by their renowned "HR Wins and Fails"

If you have any suggestions on topics you would like to hear covered please reach out on social media or email info@oculusinsights.net

Welcome to the second episode in our COVID 19 Veterinary Resilience Guide Podcast Series. In this episode, Mike Pownall DVM, MBA is joined by Robert Magnus DVM, MBA, principal partner at Oculus Insights and Sheila Stork, CVT. Both Bob and Sheila have extensive experience in the veterinary industry with special focus on operations and they experienced and excelled through the recession of 2008. Today we are going to talk about how we can maximize cash on hand in your veterinary practice right now. 

In this episode, Mike Pownall DVM MBA welcomes Melanie Barham DVM PMP MBA Candidate, a friend and colleague, who is doing some amazing things with and for veterinarians. Together they discuss, among other things,  the DVM Project and the Global Veterinary Career Summit

In this episode, Dr Mike Pownall, Katie Ardeline and Sue Armstrong discuss 2 articles, listed below, surrounding how to help employees deal with frustration and grief during COVID-19 crisis. 

How to Help Employees Deal With Frustration During COVID-19

That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief

In this episode, Mike Pownall DVM MBA talks about his life as an entrepreneur. The format answers questions that were submitted to him after his presentation at the virtual Global Veterinary Career Summit. 

Here are the links to books referenced in this episode:

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work And What To Do About It

Good To Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap And Others Don't

Nine Lies About Work

In today’s episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss burnout and reference the below podcast episode and article.

Why Burnout Happens — and How Bosses Can Help

https://pca.st/episode/5832032f-0310-426c-9fbe-969b361c6fc2

Christina Maslach has been studying the causes of burnout, and its impact, for decades. She says that, in a year when everyone feels overwhelmed and exhausted, it’s more important than ever for managers to recognize when and why employees are suffering and take steps to solve those problems. In her framework, burnout stems from not only large workloads but also lack of control, community, and/or reward and values mismatches. She notes that leaders have the ability to pull many of those levers to help their workers. Maslach is the author of The Truth About Burnout and a forthcoming book on the topic.

Do You Know Burnout When You See It?

http://feeds.harvardbusiness.org/~r/harvardbusiness/~3/-caHFVQIqd0/do-you-know-burnout-when-you-see-it

This article from the Harvard Business Review talks about understanding the subtle warning signs of burnout, taking steps to mitigate it before it’s too late,  getting creative about how to relieve some of the pressure on burned-out employees, and work collaboratively with them to understand what they need.

As always please reach out to us with any questions or ideas! Links below or find us on all of the social media platforms. 

Oculus

Advice By Oculus

info@oculusinsights.net

Join Dr Mike Pownall and Katie Adeline, of Oculus Insights, for their Human Resources series "Hire the Smile". These episodes will be conversations about Human Resources with a focus on veterinary practices and discussions of recent articles in the news. Each episode will close out with HR wins and fails from around the globe. 

Here are the articles referenced in this episode:

Job Interviews Don't Work

How To Design A Better Hiring Process

In episode 4, Dr Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline of Oculus Insights discuss current business articles surrounding the COVID-19 crisis. From the research they have done, they discuss practices that businesses have adapted and leading your team and in this unprecedented time.

Below are the links to the articles discusses in this episode:

How Crisis Will Define Your Employer Brand

The Corona Virus Crisis Doesn’t Have To Lead To Lay-Offs

Please let us know if there is anything you would like to discuss in future episodes.

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline address the unwillingness of people returning to work and the impact that minimum wage rates have on this. Following many articles, we discuss work environment, living wages, how other industry rates impact the veterinary profession and the importance of respect, stability and meaning in a job.

Articles Mentioned:

Those $300 pandemic checks aren’t the only reason restaurant employees might not want to go back to work

What Your Future Employees Want Most

What Matters More to Your Workforce than Money

Dan Price announced a minimum salary of $70,000 to all of his 120 employees back in 2015. It paid off big time

How poverty changes your mind-set

HR Wins & Fails:

Toronto E-commerce company Knix Wear raises $53-million after CEO nixes involvement of any investor who questioned her pregnancy

Made-in-Canada solution: 'Hockey hub' vaccine clinics are getting the job done faster

In today’s episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss a topic close to both of their hearts,  employee performance reviews. The foundation of the discussion surrounds two articles, each with a different approach to employee performance reviews.

For more information or to connect with us please follow us on social media or  visit www.oculusinsights.net

Are Peer Reviews the Future of Performance Evaluations?

Why this manager put workers in charge of their own raises, career development, and reviews

A wristband that tells your boss if you are unhappy

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss how to properly set attainable soft skill and hard skill goals based on performance reviews.

Articles Referenced In This Episode: Popular Goal Setting Techniques Managers Should Avoid

Why We Set Unattainable Goals

HR Wins: Kitchener mom's book on diversity inspired by bullied 5-year-old, who says 'all colours are beautiful'

HR Fails:  London, Ont., meat plant shut for 2 weeks amid COVID-19 outbreak affecting 82 workers 

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline are joined by Dr. Bob Van Der Heijden to discuss a new and exciting method of staff training called Gamification. Gamification focuses on improving team performance through online and offline activities with added game elements to encourage behavioural changes in the workplace.

Learn more about our Gamification services: https://www.oculusinsights.net/staff-training

I am pleased to welcome Katie Ardeline to the Veterinary Business Matters podcast, brought to you by Oculus Insights. Katie is a Human Resources specialist and is part of the Oculus team, she and I will be chatting monthly about current issues in HR and how they apply to veterinary practices. Oculus Insights is a strong believer in putting people first, so our monthly discussions will be interesting for any veterinary practice owner, or manager interested in having an outstanding workforce.

Here are the two articles we discussed during the podcast.

4 Factors Driving Record-High Employee Engagement in U.S.

Worker burnout is real. Here’s how to spot it.

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss their Human Resources Wishlist for 2021 in lieu of a Year in Review of 2020. Let us know your thoughts! 

As always please reach out to us at info@oculusinsights.net or on all of our social media channels. 

www.oculusinsights.net

https://www.facebook.com/OculusInsights

https://www.instagram.com/oculusinsights

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss how to identify a toxic boss, how to address them and things leaders can do to attract and retain veterinary staff.

Articles Mentioned:

How to Tell Leaders They’re Not as Great as They Think They Are

10 Things Your Corporate Culture Needs to Get Right

In this episode, I talk with Adam Little DVM about telemedicine in veterinary practices during this global pandemic. Dr.Adam Little works at the intersection of accelerating technologies and veterinary medicine. His career has spanned areas of focus ranging from artificial intelligence to telemedicine to connected devices. Dr. Little is the co-founder of Future Pet and they recently launched GoFetch Health, a subscription healthcare service, which provides owners with the most affordable and convenient way to access vet care by partnering with local veterinary practices. Visit their website here for more information https://www.health.gofetch.ca/

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss two articles pertaining to trust, empathy and caring for your people. 

Everything Starts with Trust

What would Bill Campbell do?

Visit www.oculusinsights.net or email info@oculusinsights.net if you have any questions about anything we have discussed or anything pertaining to your veterinary practice. 

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline are joined by Dr. Tovah Caldwell to discuss mindfulness tools for health, wellbeing, and longevity in veterinary practice.

In today's episode, Dr Mike Pownall talks with Jesse Reiter, President and CEO of Reflex Integrated Inc., a leading provider of specialized IT services for veterinary hospitals. They centre their conversation around ways to secure your veterinary practice from digital intruders. 

Find out more www.reflexint.co

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss how to receive feedback as an employee and as a leader. Following the book, Thanks for the Feedback by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen, we discuss the three triggers that govern how we react to feedback and how to change behaviour on a surface level vs. changing your overall mindset. We also refer to the article, How Leaders Can Get Honest, Productive Feedback by Jennifer Porter where we talk about the importance of modelling the behaviour you’d like to see from your team, how to receive feedback to better ourselves and lastly, how to ask others to help you make the desired changes based on the feedback given. 

In this episode, Dr Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss gratitude and appreciation and how it can help employees to focus on what matters, according to behavioural experts. They talk about the value of gratitude and having a culture of Thank You!

Wins and Fails Articles:

Building a Better Workplace Starts with Saying “Thanks”

The science behind gratitude at work

O.C. Tanner’s Global Culture Report: How pats on the back can improve workplace culture

In today's episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss the premise that the customer is not always right!  The discussion begins with an article about customer entitlement and the effect that has on staff, drawing comparisons to the veterinary industry. The second article talks about how some overworked practices are trying to reduce the number of problem clients on their books.

As always if you have any questions or would like to hear us discuss a topic please reach out to info@oculusinsights.net or visit www.advicebyoculus.com and www.oculusinsights.net

Articles:

Practices using pandemic to shed problem clients – report

The Customer Is Not Always Right

Book:

Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business

In this episode, Katie Ardeline and Sue Armstrong, of Oculus Insights, take the podcast on a Human Resources and Coaching tangent. Together they discuss how leaders can prepare to have conversations with their staff during this COVIS-19 crisis. 

In today's episode with Dr Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline, the conversation surrounds articles that discuss how sandwiching criticism between compliments is confusing and counterproductive and how voicing your good intentions can help soften how others receive negative feedback. 

The Simple Way to Make Giving Feedback Easier

Stop Softening Tough Feedback

In this episode, Mike Pownall DVM MBA, Katie Ardeline BA CHRL and Sue Armstrong BA, CPCC, ACC reference and discuss an Article by Brenda Steinberg and Michael Watkins about Coaching Your People Through A Crisis. The article gives a great framework for discussion around how leaders can help their staff during these unprecedented times. 

I met Kathrin Siemer at one of our Oculus Summits in Europe around 8 or 9 years ago. One of the themes of that Summit was HR. It was such a pleasure to meet someone who shared the interest that I had for taking great care of the people that we work with. At the time she was the practice manager for a rapidly growing equine practice in Germany. I was able to visit the practice 3 years ago and I was so impressed at how their people first attitude helped propel their growth. When I found out that Kathrin started her own coaching business I knew we had to have her on the podcast. I hope you enjoy her insights on what makes a great Human Resource program.

https://www.kathrin-siemer.de/

https://www.tierklinik-luesche.de/ 

In this episode, Mike Pownall DVM MBA and Oculus team members Joop Loomans DVM PhD, Katie Ardeline BA CHRL, Sue Armstrong BA, CPCC, ACC and Alyssa Rubenstein come together to discuss and offer tips on dealing with the current situation surrounding COVID-19 in your veterinary practice. They bring insights from across the globe on business, leadership, human resources and marketing. 

In this episode, I talk with Susie Elliot, Digital Sales Specialist with Royal Canin Canada. We talk about how e-commerce can help improve customer compliance, drive client loyalty and improve the customer experience through convenience. 

In this episode, Dr Mike Pownall had the opportunity to speak with Colleen Best, a colleague and previous guest to the podcast. Together they discuss compassionate leadership and it's importance while running a veterinary practice with special focus given to how we can be compassionate leaders during this COVID-19 pandemic. 

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall talks to Dr. Marie Holowaychuk. It is Dr. Holowaychuk's mission to increase awareness about mental health and wellbeing within the veterinary profession. Marie dedicates her time and energy to spreading the word regarding wellbeing and inspire veterinary professionals to make lasting changes in their lives. She shares her knowledge and personal practices to help veterinary professionals cope with the chaos of COVID-19. 

Webinar: Coping with the Chaos of COVID-19 

http://www.marieholowaychuk.com/

In this episode, the tables are turned and Dr. Mike Pownall becomes the guest. Regular guest and Oculus Insights Human Resource Specialist, Katie Ardeline talks to Dr. Pownall about his experience owning and running a vet practice during the COVID-19 crisis. 

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss why staff are hesitant to give feedback and what you can do to get employees to be more open to providing feedback.

Articles Mentioned:

The Courage to Be Candid

How To Encourage Candid Employee Feedback: 14 Tips For CEOs

The ROI of Anonymous Employee Feedback

Build Your Reputation as a Trustworthy Leader

Productivity Hacks:

Reminder App - remind by location

Regular exercise time

In today’s episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss what your vet practice can do to keep the team you have, rather than find new staff members by managing workload and client expectations.

Articles Mentioned:

The Customer Is Not Always Right: Here Are Five Reasons Why

HR Wins:

Iceland tested a 4-day workweek. Employees were productive — and happier, researchers say.

Tour de France 2021

COVID is returning with a bit of a vengeance, the second wave is real. In this episode, we talk about a few articles that discuss how COVID-19 is impacting employee engagement and work environments.  If you have any questions at all, please email info@oculusinsights.net or message us on social media.

Articles:

4 in 10 workers 'less motivated' since COVID-19 crisis

What we really need is employee DISengagement | The Context Of Things

Wins and Fails:

Shut Up and Work: Covid Gag Rules Leave Everyone in the Dark

This Company Is Laying Off Employees Via Text Message

Ted Lasso - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u7EIiohs6U

In today’s episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline are joined by Dr. Ivan Zakharenkov to discuss further research on why the veterinary profession experiences severe burnout and how corporate groups buying veterinary practices can do great things for the profession.

Dr. Ivan “Zak” Zakharenkov is a veterinarian and an entrepreneur committed to creating products that empower the healthcare team to live their passion. It was Ivan’s own personal journey from practicing veterinary medicine for 12 years and experiencing severe burnout that led him to explore the psychological triggers of burnout and business methodologies that veterinary organizations can apply to eliminate them. Researching this topic, Ivan obtained an MBA degree in International Healthcare Management and wrote a dissertation “Implementation of lean thinking to improve the employee experience.” Today Ivan is leading VIS, a technology company helping veterinary groups adopt a management methodology that combats burnout while accelerating business performance. Here is a link to Ivan's burnout study: https://vetintegrations.com/insights/burnout2020/

For more information or to contact us please email info@oculusinsights.net or find us on all of the social media channels. 

In this episode of the Veterinary Business Matters Podcast join Mike Pownall DVM, MBA and Katie Ardeline, CHRP from Oculus Insights as we discuss some Human Resources subjects that are especially important to veterinary practice owners and managers today.

We delve into the subjects of employees working from home, a veterinary leadership success story and a proposal from the government of offering 10 days sick leave to employees. We also review our wins and fails in HR from the past couple of weeks. Enjoy.

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss the different components, processes, and benefits of completing a Human Resource Audit for your veterinary practice.

Articles Mentioned:

Google employees who opt to work from home may earn less than they did before

Referencing Forbes article A Psychologist’s Secrets To Holding Tough Conversations by Kevin Kruse and the book Difficult Conversations: How To Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss the elements of having difficult conversations and what you can do to make them easier and more effective. 

Fails: Federal Court approves class-action lawsuit claiming RCMP  doctors sexually assaulted recruits Amazon's denial of workers urinating in bottles puts the pee in PR fiasco

Wins: How Kim Ng, Major League Baseball's First Female GM, Finally Got the Top J Reddit - MadeMeSmile

In this episode, Dr Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss employee engagement and the value of surveying your employees for a successful veterinary practice. As always, they close out the episode with their discussion of “Wins and Fails” If you have any questions at all please reach out to our social media channels or email info@oculusinsights.net

Wins and Fails Articles:

49% of Canadians are considering quitting their job – here's why

Rescue Dog Helps Save Endangered Whales By Sniffing Out Their Poop as a Conservation Canine

When More Is Not Better: Overcoming America's Obsession with Economic Efficiency

Welcome to episode 5 of Hire the Smile, the podcast where we discuss human resources for veterinarians. In this episode, Katie and Mike are joined by Sue Armstrong of Oculus Insights as they discuss how many of the external factors we are facing now impact how we manage the people we work with. Also, we dig into our Human Resources Wins and Fails.

The articles discussed in today's episode are:

U.S. Employee Engagement Hits New High After Historic Drop

Why Examining Employee Experience Strategies is a Must During Uncertain Times

COVID-19 is evaporating casual connections and why that’s bad

CultureLab Podcast

Against the Rules with Michael Lewis

In this episode, Mike Pownall DVM MBA and Joop Loomans DVM PhD, both partners in Oculus Insights, discuss business education for veterinarians. They touch on the value of business education as well as the logistics of learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In this episode Dr. Mike Pownall talks to Dr. Robert Magnus about the Negotiation Workshop coming up in Chicago next month from July 28-31.

You negotiate all the time, but you probably know very little about the strategy and psychology of effective negotiation.

This 3-day workshop will draw on current research in management and leadership to give you a deep understanding of negotiations and will help you master the processes and strategies to excel at them.

Your Instructors

Gail Berger MEd, PhD Gail received her Ph.D. in Management and Organizations from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. She also holds an M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from Loyola University and a B.A./B.S. in Psychology and Elementary Education from Boston University. She has blended her background in education, business and psychology to create a powerful approach to team building, leadership development, and executive coaching.

Robert P. Magnus DVM, MBA Robert Magnus is an accomplished senior executive and thought leader with over thirty years in the veterinary health care and business consulting industries. In 2005 he founded Equine Business Management Strategies LLC, an executive business education program for the equine veterinary industry. Robert joined the business consulting firm, Oculus Insights LLP which has expanded business education and consultancy offerings on a global level to the veterinary profession.

Learning Outcomes Include: 

• Confidence in making deals
• How to apply negotiation tactics to craft optimal solutions
• Improved tactics
• How to build trust with others in order to sustain long-term relationships and reputations
• New approaches to negotiation
• Better strategies
• New negotiation tools

Visit the website for more information OCULUS NEGOTIATION WORKSHOP

In this podcast episode, Joop Loomans of Oculus Insights is joined by Dr. Melissa Mckee and Dr. Philippe Benoit to discuss the 2021 Equine Regenerative Medicine and Orthobiologics Online Summit. From PRP to Bone Edema, learn how the Summit assists in everyday equine vet practice and what topics to look forward to for the 2021 summit.

For more information, visit www.equineregenerativesummit.com 

I had the pleasure of participating in a panel discussion with Cal Lai of My Pet Doc and Ask.Vet on the subject of Artificial Intelligence in veterinary medicine. I was very impressed in his vision and creativity in terms of how technology and vet med meet. I knew I had to chat with him and I’m so glad I did. I am sure you will enjoy our conversation. We discuss his company Ask.Vet, as well as being an entrepreneur in the vet space and his thoughts on the future of veterinary medicine.

In today’s episode, we are joined by Alyssa Rubenstein of Oculus Insights, Daniel MacDonald, CEO and owner of Trackable Revenue and Heather McPherson, marketing manager for McKee-Pownall Equine Services to discuss marketing your veterinary practice during the COVID-19 crisis. We touch on whether to increase or decrease your marketing efforts,  areas to grow and areas to maintain, the tone and messaging of your marketing and some tips that may impact your efforts.

In today's episode, Katie Ardeline and Dr. Mike Pownall talk about developing resiliency in veterinary medicine. They introduce a new service, Advice by Oculus, which provides online, personal, performance coaching and business advisor sessions that are convenient, accessible, and confidential for the veterinary profession.  Please reach out to us on social media or at info@oculusinsights.net with any questions or ideas!

Wins and Fails Articles:

How to train for resilience

To Build Grit, Go Back to Basics

• Blinkist
• Having the ability to say NO

As part of the Oculus COVID-19 Resiliency Guide for veterinarians today I am speaking with Sue Armstrong BA, CPCC, ACC. Sue is an executive coach and part of the Oculus team. We talk about what executive coaching consists of and the value of coaching for our veterinary practices. In today's episode, Sue guides us, as leaders within our practice, on how to be there and show up for our team during this time of crisis.

In this episode, Dr Mike Pownall talks to Dr Scott Bainbridge of Dundas West Animal Hospital and Dr Saye Clement of the Carling Animal Hospital about their experience implementing and using telemedicine in veterinary practice. 

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline have their regular exchange surrounding Human Resources where they discuss two recent articles and talk about some HR wins and losses. 

Here are the links to this week's articles: 

Why Working Four Days And Getting Paid For 5 Could Be A Reality Post-Covid 19

Employee Burnout: The Biggest Myth

I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Tracy Walker of Allegheny Equine Veterinary Service at the European Oculus Business Management Summit last fall. Over the three days of the Summit, I became more and more impressed at the incredible business she has built in a rural part of the USA. Typically, we hear of struggling rural practices that face so many challenges. It was a breath of fresh air hearing how Dr. Walker has built a growing practice that would be the envy of any practice owner. I had to chat with her on the podcast to celebrate a great business. I hope you enjoy hearing her story of building an exciting growing practice.

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss the impact toxic employees have on the bottom line, how to deal with them and how to help them with direct feedback.

Articles Mentioned

Nine traits of a toxic employee

It’s Better to Avoid a Toxic Employee than Hire a Superstar

How to Work with Someone Who Creates Unnecessary Conflict

How to Manage a Toxic Employee

Productivity Hacks

Slack

Apple Watch – Monitoring Sleep

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss five tips that will help your veterinary staff and practice as everything begins to reopen. We will be discussing leadership, communication, appreciation for staff, workload and future thinking.

HR Wins & Fails: Footage reveals Ohio state senator driving during Zoom call Canada’s new entrepreneurs, ineligible for government assistance, are bearing the brunt of lockdowns goodnews_movement

In this episode, Dr Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss articles surrounding responsible leadership.

If you have any questions or topics you would like discussed please reach out to info@oculusinsights.net or reach out on social media.  

Articles:

4 Reasons Emotionally Intelligent Leaders Impact the Bottom Line

Today’s Leaders Need Vulnerability, Not Bravado

Heavy drinking, sex tapes, and a pyramid scheme: Yelp insiders speak out about the company's high-pressure sales culture

In this episode, I talk finances with fellow Oculus Insights founder, Robert Magnus DVM, MBA. Dr.Magnus has a passion for financials and he talks us through the current programs available in the USA during the COVID-19 crisis. 

In today's episode I talk with a good friend,  Dr. Karen Bolten. Today, Karen shares her story of selling her equine practice to pursue her degree in business.

Dr. Bolten is a large animal veterinarian, with a main focus on equine, especially equine dentistry. She founded Myrtle Beach Equine Clinic in 2010, and during that time discovered that she truly enjoyed the business management side of  the field, that it spoke to many of her strengths and interests. She chose to sell her practice in 2018 to pursue a full education in business and is currently double majoring in Business Management and Marketing.

On the business side, she is interested in finding solutions for small-scale large animal practices that have difficulties in producing a reasonable profit, which is the situation she found herself in as a practice owner in a rural area.

In this episode Dr Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss combatting leadership burnout, the Oxygen Mask Theory and how developing practices to deal with challenges and enhance your emotional well-being will help you avoid burnout and combat future threats.

These theories are discussed at length in these articles:

Why COVID-19 is aggravating leadership burnout

This Is The Best Way To Avoid COVID Burnout

Any questions at all or topics you would like to hear covered in future episodes please reach out to info@oculusinsights.net

In this episode, Dr Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline of Oculus Insights continue their bi-weekly conversations surrounding Human Resources. Today they discuss two articles focusing on micromanagement and trust and close with their renowned "HR Wins and Fails". Enjoy!

The Ultimate Guide To Micromanagers: Signs, Causes, Solutions

Do You Really Trust Your Team? (And Do They Trust You?)

In this episode, Dr. Mike Pownall and Katie Ardeline discuss a common challenge in many vet practices, dealing with a high performer colleague that is also disruptive or difficult to handle. We discuss tips for dealing with this type of personality, why this person is this way, and methods to ensure you are hiring people that align with your workplace culture and core values. Stay tuned for the end of the episode, where we share some productivity hacks that can make your life easier.

Articles mentioned:  The ‘good’ doctor: It’s time to stop treating character like an afterthought in medicine – and everywhere else Managing a Top Performer Who Alienates Their Colleagues

Productivity Hacks: Pocket  The Pomodoro® Technique

In today's episode, I sit down with Katie Adeline to discuss a topic that is near and dear to both of us.... the hiring process.

Katie Ardeline is a Human Resources professional with over 10 years’ experience in the Equine and Small Animal veterinary industry. Katie graduated from the University of Toronto in with a Bachelor’s Degree in 2003, and then completed a post-degree Human Resources Management certificate program at Mohawk College, culminating in the acquisition of her Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation.

Katie’s role at Oculus sees her working with a wide variety of clients and audiences in various capacities. She presents and conducts workshops on numerous aspects of HR Management including Employee Engagement in a variety of venues, including numerous Equine Business Management Summits in both North America and Europe. Katie is skilled providing HR support in various capacities, from consulting and customized support of targeted stand-alone initiatives to building entire HR programs for clients from the ground up.

Prior to working with Oculus, Katie was the Operations Manager at McKee-Pownall Equine Services, an equine veterinary practice that employs over 30 people, including 10+ veterinarians, across three practices in the Greater Toronto, Ontario and Wellington, Florida area that is recognized in the equine veterinary industry for its emphasis on employee care and work-life balance. Before working at McKee-Pownall, Katie was the Human Resources Administrator for a large accounting firm in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

While Katie is involved with all functional areas of Human Resources, her true passion lies in helping employees develop the tools they need to grow and flourish through a structured and collaborative system of coaching and goal-setting.

Dr. Joop Loomans and Dr. Mike Pownall of Oculus Insights discuss Reinventing Your Veterinary Business Strategy. 

Go on a journey to reinvent your veterinary business!

The veterinary marketplace is quickly being disrupted by large veterinary corporates that own an increasing number of practices. Working for one of these companies in a more traditional 8 – 5 job seems appealing to a lot of young veterinarians.

Can your business continue to be veterinary owned in a way that is appealing and sustainable for the next generation of veterinarians?

This full-day workshop will give you a strong and evidence-based understanding of how to update the clunky old-school business models that drive many existing practices.

Learn more by viewing the event information sheet here, or click here to sign up today