• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • 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
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
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
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
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

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

CVC report: Are you everyone's favorite team member?

May 1, 2015
Valerie Foos

Find out how you can be your veterinary practices MVP with these tips from Heather Prendergast, RVT, CVPM, in her CVC D.C. session, Becoming the Indispensable Team Member.

While hard skills are necessary for a job, soft skills can be equally, if not more, important. And part of becoming an indispensable team member is to hone these skills, says Heather Prendergast, RVT, CVPM, in her CVC D.C. session “Becoming the Indispensable Team Member.” Consider these tips to boost your status at your practice:

> Keep mission, vision and values in mind. You want to ensure your actions and demeanor are in line with and reflective of the mission, vision and values of the practice, as well as your own personal mission, vision and set of values.  

> Improve your communication with clients. You want clients to come in and request you specifically.

> Record yourself in the exam room to watch your tone, facial expression and body language. These can quickly-and inadvertently-alter the atmosphere and your ability to reach your clients.

> Use good posture. While it's tempting to lean on the exam table or counters available, stand up straight, don't slouch and maintain eye contact. The exception to the eye contact rule: In certain Asian cultures extended eye contact is offensive.  

> Avoid negative and dead-end statements. Replace “I don't know” with, “That's a great question. Let me find out.” And try to adjust your vocabulary to more professional terms, such as “vaccinations” instead of “shots” and “ovariohysterectomy” instead of “fixed.”  

Advertisement

> Avoid barriers. Step out from around the table, don't cross your arms and move swiftly and with a purpose in the clinic. If clients see you walking or moving slowly, they may interpret it as apathy. Also attempt to be eye level or slightly below eye level when discussing options with clients. Approaching from above can come across as authoritative, and they may subconsciously shut you out.

> Evaluate your SWOT: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. What strengths do you have, not just technically but your soft skills? Work ethic and problem solving aren't skills easily taught. 

Identifying your weaknesses will lead you towards area in which you can focus on improvement. And identifying opportunities for personal and professional growth may lead you to new responsibilities-and promotions or raises-at work.

What threats exist to your job and where is there room for a threat to grow? What can you do to mitigate this? While self-evaluation is invaluable, consider asking your supervisors. Conversations with supervisors and coworkers can help you identify problems or perceived problems and find solutions to correct both the issue and the perception.

Valerie Foos is a veterinary technician student in Loudoun, Virginia.

Related Content:

Career DevelopmentClient Relations & Marketing
How to discuss finances with clients
How to discuss finances with clients
The significance of Women's History Month
The significance of Women's History Month
Treating patients with spectrum of care in mind
Treating patients with spectrum of care in mind

Advertisement

Latest News

An update on copper concerns in pet foods

Dental hacks to make every case more manageable

Q&A with a keynote: Walter Brown, RVTg, VTS, ECC

News wrap-up: This week’s headlines, plus dvm360® launches its first CE podcast

View More Latest News
Advertisement