• Fetck KC Callout
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Media
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspective
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
dvm360 LIVE!™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Client Handouts
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Upcoming dvm360 Conferences
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2022 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2022 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Checklist: Better communication as a veterinarian

May 13, 2019
Mike Paul, DVM
dvm360, dvm360 June 2019, Volume 50, Issue 6

You get what patients are saying to you in their blood work and their body language, but are you always paying enough attention to what your veterinary team members and clients are telling you? Here are a few things to work on.

Active listening may or may not involve you cocking your head. Learning to communicate effectively with coworkers, clients and family is perhaps the most important skill we can have, and we could all improve at these aspects of it:

Do you stop and listen?

Listening, really listening, is a vital communication skill that all of us need to work on. In a conversation, there's a tendency for us all to focus on our personal perspective on an issue. We don't so much listen as focus on what we're contributing and what we'll say, anticipating our response before the other person has conveyed their message. This frequently results in a lack of clarity, regular misunderstandings and frustration for both parties.

Active listening means paying attention, asking questions and restating what you believe you heard to verify understanding so you can formulate a truly productive response.

Do you show respect?

Show you know the value of others' time and space. Pay attention to your inflections and tone of voice. Be aware of your body language, which can communicate more than your words.

Do you work to stay open-minded?

Good communication requires flexibility and receptivity to the perspectives and ideas of others-caring what the other person thinks and how they feel. Listen attentively to the “other side” and hear their perspective.

If you can, did you pick a good time and place?

I think face-to-face and person-to-person is the best form of communication. Unfortunately, virtual communications seem to have replaced the human voice and eye contact. While technology may be a quick way to connect, it can be a terrible way to communicate effectively. But if you insist on e-communication, keep it short and focused. If a subject is dire or serious, if it requires a discussion or explanation, if it could be misconstrued or result in conflict, a phone call or meeting is more appropriate.

Set the stage for your conversations by stopping to listen, showing respect for someone's time and communication style, staying open-minded about the other person's opinions and feelings and picking the right moment in the right place for sensitive discussions. You'll be on your way to better communication.

Dr. Paul is the former executive director of the Companion Animal Parasite Council and a former president of the American Animal Hospital Association. He is currently the principal of MAGPIE Veterinary Consulting. He is retired from practice and lives in Anguilla, British West Indies.

download issueDownload Issue: dvm360 June 2019

Related Content:

AssociatesLeadership & Personal GrowthPersonnel ManagementBreaking NewsClient Relations & Marketingdvm360 June 2019
Dr Mike Nolan receives 2022 AVMF/EveryCat Health Foundation Research Award
Dr Mike Nolan receives 2022 AVMF/EveryCat Health Foundation Research Award
Client anxiety and the true cost of owning a pet
Client anxiety and the true cost of owning a pet
A deep dive into rabbit gastrointestinal stasis syndrome
A deep dive into rabbit gastrointestinal stasis syndrome

Latest News

Mini donkey successfully receives pacemaker to manage fatal heart condition

News wrap-up: This week’s headlines, plus Cincinnati Zoo welcomes baby hippo

Dr Mike Nolan receives 2022 AVMF/EveryCat Health Foundation Research Award

Lear's macaw reintroduced into wild and flourishing

View More Latest News