Building strong teams and cultural competency in veterinary practices

Being a practice manager, although a rewarding career, can also be a challenging one. Between managing employees, clients, patients, and anyone else that steps foot into your clinic, learning how to be a great communicator and leader can take time and practice, but what if you had some tips to help?

On this week's episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, Lazaro Lopes and our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, discuss how Lopes manages his practice by understanding employees, and how he is improving access to care by getting a better understanding of his clients' cultures and languages.

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity

Adam Christman, DVM, MBA: So what's your approach to keeping communication strong and, you know, making sure that everyone stays on the same page?

Lazaro Lopes: That very much falls on me, because every team member is different, and a one-size-fits-all approach is not going to work. There's always a learning curve. I tailor communication based on how each person best receives information. Some prefer direct conversations, while others do better with written updates like an email or a text. I do very informal touch bases, and like I said, that may work for some enough for others. You learn your way through, but the point being is to hold regular check-ins to make sure everyone is aligned and encourage open feedback, whether it's about workflow or schedules or team dynamics. Clear communication keeps things running smoothly and helps prevent misunderstandings.

Christman: It's great, it really is and I love that you have this open door policy. It sounds like to chat with you, because you're leading by example. You're in the trenches with them. You get them, you understand them. That all speaks to your authenticity and your character, which is great.