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Do As I Say Not As I Do

By VHMA Admin posted 11-06-2015 11:22

  

“Don’t walk that patient without double leashing him”, says the head technician while standing in the treatment room, ready to head out for a walk with a hospitalized patient that has only one leash on it.

Do as I say not as I do… an idiom that means "I am going to give you advice but I am not going to follow it myself." There are many instances during the course of our everyday work where we encounter these conflicting messages. Sometimes it is while communicating with a doctor or a team member and other times it is with our clients. In the example above, the technician gives a clear directive to a subordinate technician but not does not follow her own instruction. Other examples could include the associate veterinarian who recommends pre-anesthetic blood work to his clients but neuters his own dog without doing any prior blood work or the receptionist who educates clients on the importance of vaccinating for leptospirosis but doesn’t vaccinate her own pets.

So what should we do when we encounter these situations? And how can we avoid committing the same faux pas ourselves? Honestly, you won’t always be able to get around situations like these. Some will have to be accepted, especially when dealing with our superiors. However, we can make sure we don’t commit the same mistakes with our team members. And it starts and ends with clear communication. Communication is not only speaking but also listening and reflecting back what you have heard. When faced with a situation where someone says something but does another, we need to seek clarification. As leaders in our practices, we set the standards. If our communication is confusing or backwards from what we do, respect is lost, team members become frustrated and relationships suffer. 

Begin by looking at your own actions. Do you hold yourself to the same standard as you hold the rest of your team or your clients? If you don’t, make a change. If you do, see that others do as well. If standards are set and no one is following them, consider reviewing the standard so you can re-commit to it or change it if needed. When encountering an instance where someone says one thing and does another, question them. Ask why the standard is not being followed by everyone and help clear up any confusion about that process or procedure. Sometimes, it is simply a case of not realizing it is happening. Other times, we may need to hold our team to the standards agreed upon. Once this happens and team members see it happening, there will be less confusion and more unity and alignment within the team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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