Technicians

Some team members consistently resist the policy and procedural changes I make for our practice, but their peers get them on board with no problem. How can I change this?

Talking to pet owners about separation anxiety.

Whether I'm helping pets heal or helping their owners say goodbye, my job in veterinary oncology brings special patients and their families into my life who remind me why I love pets-and my work.

I'm an office manager for a practice with 26 doctors and team members. Because the owner hires personal friends, I can't effectively discipline team members who don't meet expectations. One problem employee has known the owner for more than 20 years. She's not a team player and her poor performance frustrates others. What can I do?

Move over, Steelers, there's a new team in town.

Hosting special events for team members and their families can build better working relationships and strengthen the support system in your practice, says Debbie Allaben Gair, CVPM, a Firstline Editorial Advisory Board member and president of Bridging the Gap in Sparta, Mich.

It doesn't hurt Dr. Craig Prior's feelings when a client is hesitant to take out a pet insurance policy: "I tell them, 'Try it for a year. If you don't like it, cancel it. I won't mind.'"

Team members with different roles answer the question, "What can your team do to make your job easier for you?"

Tracey Nowers, CVT, takes you on a guided tour of her experience with Project Samana, a volunteer program that runs spay and neuter clinics in the Dominican Republic.

Everyone's bound to disagree sometimes, but it becomes everyone's problem when issues aren't resolved quickly, says Pam Weakley, a Firstline Editorial Advisory Board member and the practice manager at Dickman Road Veterinary Clinic in Battle Creek, Mich.

Answers to "What's your generational IQ?"

You must watch what you eat. You can't drink the water or even brush your teeth with it. Nothing is sterile. And yet, my experiences at a spay and neuter clinic in the Dominican Republic have been among the most rewarding in my career.

I had just come in from a walk when my phone rang. As any veterinarian knows, getting a call this late at night could mean only one thing: a sick animal.

Are you in tune with Baby Boomers? All-knowing of New Millenniums? Savvy with Generation X? Up to snuff with Traditionals? Take this quiz and test your generational know-how.

She's a workaholic. He doesn't get the rules. She wants a steady, independent work environment, while he prefers lots of activity and public recognition. Here's a quick guide to the care and feeding of team members from different generations.

It's time to bare your sole to team members and share what rubs you the wrong way. Use these tips and insights to put your team on an even heel.

Sometimes pets and their owners share an uncanny resemblance-bad behavior. Use this chart to tackle both species' less favorable features.

When the school bell rings at Heritage Animal Hospital in Maple Grove, Minn., team members celebrate.

One night about a year ago, I was on call but had important business to attend to-I was standing in line at a local bookstore waiting for the release of the latest book in the Harry Potter series. It was midnight, and true to form, my pager, the black box of evil, chimed.

Everybody wants to feel recognized by their bosses and peers. Here's how you can say thanks and boost morale in your practice.

Are there tough talks you're not having? Learn to lay issues on the table and push that pachyderm out of your practice and your life.

Q When I ask my co-workers for help, they seem receptive but never follow through. What should I do?

Review this list of items to include in puppy and kitten kits. Then select the handouts and giveaways that target your practice's education mission and goals.

To keep the team eggs-ited at Cloverleaf Animal Hospital in Westfield Center, Ohio, Linda Randall, DVM, AVBP, and Susan Harr, the practice manager, host an annual indoor spring egg hunt at their one-doctor practice.

Use this survey to learn how satisfied clients are with your practice.

Q Should I receive compensation or bonuses for the dental procedures I'm specially trained to perform?

Form asking employees to acknowledge that they understand the hospital manual and their at-will status

Sick of the communication gaps and the infighting about policy changes that often occur between front and back office team members? Crystal Steen, a receptionist at Pet Care Vet in Virginia Beach, Va., suggests electing area liaisons.