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Soft skills

in the veterinary field

Emotional Intelligence

4/30/2022

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“Emotional intelligence is critical in building and maintaining relationships and influencing others—key skills that help people throughout their career and wherever they sit in an organisational structure,” — says Margaret Andrews, instructor of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership.

So, how to improve emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence development is a continual process, and the path is unique to each individual. Nonetheless, the following acts are believed will help you improve your self-awareness, empathy, and social skills.

1. Determine what you are really feeling

Recognising your feelings is the first step in learning how to be emotionally intelligent. Ask yourself what you're feeling. Mindfulness is a tried-and-true method for gaining perspective on your emotions, allowing you to regulate unpleasant emotions and harness positive ones. As you become more aware of your sentiments, you will be able to pay more attention to how you speak to others.

2. Acknowledge and appreciate your emotions

Improving your emotional intelligence does not imply rejecting your emotions. Your emotions are always there to help you, so be open and honest about your feelings. When you learn to validate your own emotions, you become more capable of validating the feelings of others, which is a critical component of practising empathy.

3. Create a strong belief in yourself

When you think you will be able to conquer it, you get unstoppable confidence. Consider another moment when you successfully managed a similar sensation to establish trust in any scenario. You can do it again if you've done it before. You can handle rugged terrain with confidence.

4. Value self-awareness

Accepting your feelings is one of the steps in a lifelong journey of self-discovery. Emotional mastery requires a level of self-awareness in which you detect your emotions and understand how they influence your conduct. As you grow more self-aware, you become more tolerant of yourself and more empathic toward others. You will become your inner manager as you utilise self-awareness to learn how to develop emotional intelligence. Instead of responding to things without knowing why you may assess what motivates you. Instead of being impulsive, you may control your responses and make intelligent decisions.

5. Be aware of others’ feelings

Being conscious of your own emotions makes you more aware of the feelings of others, which improves your ability to form good connections. You can comprehend others' problems, pick up on emotional clues, and engage with others relaxed. When you can take care of your own emotional needs, you are more emotionally available as a spouse, friend, coworker, or family member.

6. Use your active listening skills

Emotionally intelligent people listen for clarity in talks rather than waiting for their turn to speak. Before answering, they make sure they comprehend what is being stated. They are aware of nonverbal cues in a conversation. This will avoid misunderstandings, helps the listener respond appropriately, and demonstrates respect for the person.

7. Use an assertive communication approach

Assertive communication goes a long way toward winning respect without appearing overly aggressive or meek. Emotionally intelligent people understand how to express their thoughts and want directly while respecting others.

8. Respond to conflict rather than react to it

Emotional outbursts and sentiments of fury are prevalent during times of conflict. The emotionally intelligent individual understands how to remain calm under challenging conditions. They do not act rashly, which might lead to even worse difficulties. They recognise that the purpose of conflict resolution is to achieve, and they make a conscious decision to focus on ensuring that their actions and words are in line with that.

9. Experiment with techniques to keep a positive mindset and be motivated

Don't underestimate the influence of your attitude. If a person permits it, a bad attitude may readily infect others. Emotionally savvy people are aware of the moods of individuals around them and adjust their attitudes accordingly. They understand what they need to do to have a pleasant day and an optimistic attitude. This might involve eating a nutritious breakfast or lunch, praying or meditating during the day, or placing encouraging quotes near their workstation or computer.

10. Get enthusiastic and take action

“A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action.” —says Tony Robbins.

You must get out there and practice to grasp how to enhance emotional intelligence truly. Set a new goal or milestone for yourself and keep track of your progress. Step outside of your comfort zone. Increase the number of meaningful discussions you have with the people in your life. Be more aware. Place yourself in circumstances where emotional intelligence is necessary on purpose. You will be rewarded in your personal and professional relationships if you put your emotional mastery to work by being receptive to others.

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Problem-Solving

3/10/2022

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WHAT IS PROBLEM-SOLVING?
In this era of sophistication, everything has problems, and this is due to the fact that no system in the world is entirely efficient. Humanity spends a significant amount of time, both at work and in our personal lives, attempting to solve problems. Some issues are minor, and we can quickly resolve them. However, others are complex problems that necessitate collaboration, creativity, and a significant amount of effort to solve.

Problem-solving is the process of resolving any type of issue, while problem-solving skill is regarded as a soft skill or a personal strength rather than a hard skill that can be acquired through education or training. Problem-solving abilities assist you in determining why an issue occurs, finding out the root cause, and resolving it quickly and effectively. 


STEPS OF PROBLEM-SOLVING
1. Define the problem
Diagnose the situation so that your focus is on the problem, not just its symptoms. Helpful problem-solving techniques include using flowcharts to identify the expected steps of a process and cause-and-effect diagrams to define and analyze root causes.
The sections below help explain key problem-solving steps. These steps support the involvement of interested parties, the use of factual information, comparison of expectations to reality, and a focus on the root causes of a problem. You should begin by:
Reviewing and documenting how processes currently work (i.e., who does what, with what information, using what tools, communicating with what organizations and individuals, in what time frame, using what format).
Evaluating the possible impact of new tools and revised policies in the development of your "what should be" model.

2. Generate alternative solutions
Postpone the selection of one solution until several problem-solving alternatives have been proposed. Considering multiple alternatives can significantly enhance the value of your ideal solution. Once you have decided on the "what should be" model, this target standard becomes the basis for developing a road map for investigating alternatives. Brainstorming and team problem-solving techniques are both useful tools in this stage of problem-solving.
Many alternative solutions to the problem should be generated before the final evaluation. A common mistake in problem-solving is that alternatives are evaluated as they are proposed, so the first acceptable solution is chosen, even if it’s not the best fit. If we focus on trying to get the results we want, we miss the potential for learning something new that will allow for real improvement in the problem-solving process.

3. Evaluate and select an alternative
Skilled problem solvers use a series of considerations when selecting the best alternative. They consider the extent to which:
A particular alternative will solve the problem without causing other unanticipated problems.
All the individuals involved will accept the alternative.
Implementation of the alternative is likely.
The alternative fits within the organizational constraints.

4. Implement and follow up on the solution
Leaders may be called upon to direct others to implement the solution, "sell" the solution or facilitate the implementation with the help of others. Involving others in the implementation is an effective way to gain buy-in and support and minimize resistance to subsequent changes.
Regardless of how the solution is rolled out, feedback channels should be built into the implementation. This allows for continuous monitoring and testing of actual events against expectations. Problem-solving, and the techniques used to gain clarity, are most effective if the solution remains in place and is updated to respond to future changes.


HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS
1.   Establish basic knowledge:  
Many people criticize the traditional education system. Indeed, the traditional education system sometimes cannot meet the changes of the times. However, basic knowledge is an important foundation for us to solve unknown problems. So, the first step to improving problem-solving skills is to establish your basic knowledge.

2. Links of cross-domain knowledge:
Knowledge is like a three-dimensional network structure, which does not exist alone. The establishment of basic knowledge is to prepare for linking them together. The connection of knowledge requires strong self-learning ability. One needs to constantly explore and make connections between knowledge, so he can finally put knowledge into practice to solve problems, which we call Application.

3.   Application:

Application is to put certain basic knowledge, concepts, or techniques into practice. After we make this, problems are solved. Application sounds simple, but to improve that, we need to accumulate many experiences. Practice speaks louder than words. When encountering a problem, all we need to do is to continuously accumulate our knowledge, strength, and experience. Constantly thinking, analyzing, and researching can let us deal with problems more and more smoothly and sophisticatedly. 

4. Independent thinking:
People nowadays constantly acquire knowledge on Facebook, IG, or other social media. The way we learn makes us get used to getting information passively, which let the chances of thinking independently fewer than before. To sharpen our independent thinking skills, we shouldn’t believe what we see or what we hear. On the contrary, we should always doubt the correctness of the information and think independently, searching for ways to double-check that information.
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Communication

1/31/2022

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"Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy, and mutual valuing."
Rollo May


Being able to communicate effectively is one of the most important life skills to learn. Communication is defined as transferring information to produce greater understanding. It can be done vocally (through verbal exchanges), through written media (books, websites, and magazines), visually (using graphs, charts, and maps), or non-verbally (body language, gestures, pitch of voice, and tone). All of these means of communication are essential Soft Skills that are vital for a successful Career.
Communication is simply the act of transferring information from one place, person, or group to another.
Every communication involves (at least) one sender, a message, and a recipient. This may sound simple, but communication is a very complex subject.
The transmission of the message from sender to recipient can be affected by a huge range of things. These include our emotions, the cultural situation, the medium used to communicate, and even our location. The complexity is why good communication skills are considered so desirable by employers around the world: accurate, effective and unambiguous communication is extremely hard.


The Importance of Communication Skills


"If you just communicate, you can get by. But if you communicate skillfully, you can work miracle."
Jim Rohn 


Having strong communication skills aids in all aspects of life – from professional to personal and everything that falls in between. From a business standpoint, all transactions result from communication. Good communication skills are essential to allow others and yourself to understand information more accurately and quickly.
In contrast, poor communication skills lead to frequent misunderstandings and frustration. In a 2016 LinkedIn survey conducted in the United States, communication topped the list of the most sought-after soft skills among employers.
Effective Communication is significant for management in the organizations also to perform the basic functions of management, i.e., Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling.
Communication helps managers to perform their jobs and responsibilities, it serves as a foundation for planning. All the essential information must be communicated to the managers who in turn must communicate the plans to implement them. Organizing also requires effective communication with others about their job task. Similarly, leaders must communicate effectively with their subordinates to achieve the team goals. Tasks control is not possible without written and oral communication.


The importance of communication in an organization can be as follows:
  1. Communication promotes motivation by informing and clarifying the employees about the task to be done, the manner they are performing the task, and how to improve their performance if it is not up to the mark.
  2. Communication is a source of information to the organizational members for decision-making as it helps identify and assess alternative courses of action.
  3. Communication also plays a crucial role in altering an individual’s attitudes, i.e., a well-informed individual will have a better attitude than a less-informed individual. Organizational magazines, journals, meetings, and various other forms of oral and written communication help in molding employees’ attitudes.
  4. Communication also helps in socializing. Just the presence of another individual fosters communication. It is also said that one cannot survive without communication.
  5. Communication also assists in controlling processes. It helps control organizational members’ behavior in various ways. There are various levels of hierarchy and certain principles and guidelines that employees must follow in an organization. They must comply with organizational policies, perform their job role efficiently and communicate any work problem and grievance to their superiors. Thus, communication helps in controlling the function of management.

Listening- the most crucial part of communication


Communication can be divided into two parts: listening and dialogue, which complement each other. They both play an important role in communication and must coexist to form a good one.
Some believe that if someone only listens and does not speak, that person did not engage, causing the speaker to feel unappreciated. On the other hand, if someone only talks but does not listen, he will not receive others' messages and will not understand what they are thinking, making it impossible for him to respond appropriately and sophisticatedly.
Therefore, if the two aspects do not coexist, the meaning of communication will not be achieved. Listening or dialogue will become meaningless.
Listening is a process that needs receiving, comprehending, evaluating, and responding to voice messages and emotions, and it requires the use of all senses. Many people neglect the importance of listening and will only rush to speak without paying attention to what others share. It is essential in effective communication because communication is a two-sided exchange. One can bring their insights and reflect on what they can improve and progress by listening to others.
In addition, listening can encourage others to express their thoughts, allowing us to gain a better understanding of others' inner thoughts. It will also entice others to communicate with you further.




How to improve communication skills


There are specific things to do that can improve your communication skills:


Practice active listening: We sometimes forget that communication is more than just saying our piece when it is actually about effectively listening to the other person. Engage with what people say by giving affirmative replies and asking follow-up questions. The person speaking to you should be the most important at that moment.


It is essential to know who you are speaking with: Effective communicators tailor their message to the person to whom they are speaking. You cannot assume that the other person understands everything you say. So, keep the other person in mind when trying to convey your message.


Concentrate on nonverbal communication: Understanding nonverbal cues and signals can help you avoid miscommunication and signal interest to those around you. Pay attention to your facial expressions and body language. Your nonverbal cues influence the first impression you make on someone. When meeting someone for the first time, maintaining eye contact, limiting hand gestures, and having good posture go a long way. But also pay attention to the other person: folded arms in front of a person may indicate defensive or closed off. Lack of eye contact may indicate that they are uninterested in what you're saying, are embarrassed about something, or find it difficult to discuss something. 


Be succinct while remaining specific: Practice being brief yet straightforward enough in your written and verbal communication so that the other person understands what you're trying to say. Also, when responding to an email, make sure you read the entire message before writing your response. You will learn not to ramble or provide excessive information with enough practice.


Practice your public speaking skills: Although public speaking can be intimidating, there is no better way to develop good communication skills than to seek out public speaking opportunities. Great communicators can express their emotions clearly, whether speaking in front of a large group or one-on-one with another person. Speaking in front of a group regularly will highlight your strengths and weaknesses and force you to develop excellent communication skills.


Make a list of everything: Take notes while talking to someone else or during a meeting, and don't rely on your memory. Send a follow-up email to ensure you comprehended what was said during the conversation.


Take a moment to reflect before speaking: Always pause before speaking, and never say the first thing that comes to mind. Take a moment to think about what you're saying and how you're saying it. This one habit will save you from embarrassment.


Everyone should be treated equally: Treat everyone with respect and don't talk down to them. Treat others as equals. You don't have to like or agree with someone's ideas, values, or opinions to communicate effectively with them. To fully understand them, you must set aside your judgment and refrain from blaming or criticizing them. When the most challenging communication is successfully executed, it can frequently lead to an unexpected connection with someone.


Keep a positive attitude and a smile on your face: Even if you're on the phone, smile because your positive attitude will come across, and the other person will notice. People will respond positively to you if you smile frequently and exude a positive attitude.


Create a filter: Effective communicators typically have well-developed social skills and can modulate how they express their thoughts and feelings to those around them. Understand what is appropriate to communicate in various interpersonal contexts. Creating a filter will help you supplement other communication techniques, maintain a certain level of decorum, and avoid conflict in the workplace.


Request feedback: Asking your coworkers or subordinates for feedback on how to improve your communication skills can help you better understand how you come across in the workplace. If there appears to be a misunderstanding, consider paraphrasing what has been said. "What I'm hearing" or "Sounds like you're saying" are excellent ways to reflect. Express how the speaker's words have affected you. Ask clarifying questions, such as "What do you mean when you say..." or "Is this what you mean?"


Be open and honest: Being open means discussing essential issues that are important to you, both positive and negative. It entails being open and vulnerable, exposing yourself to potential hurt and disappointment.



Avoid interrupting the conversation or attempting to redirect it to your concerns: "If you think that's bad, let me tell you what happened to me," for instance. Waiting for your turn to speak is not the same as listening, and you can't focus on what someone else is saying if you're thinking about what you're going to say next. Often, the speaker can read your facial expressions and know that your mind’s elsewhere.



Digital communications: the panacea we've all been looking for?


Living in our era it seems only fare to mention digital communication as well, since it has become our main channel of communication on a daily basis. But is it the same as talking face-to-face? What are the down sides of this change?


What Exactly Is Digital Communication?
Digital communication is the most effective form of communication nowadays via voice or video, with screen sharing. It is a process of sharing ideas, information, and messages with others at a particular time and place with the aid of digital devices like cell phones, computers, and similar electronic devices.
Before the advent of modern technology, people had to write a letter and send it by post, what involved fees. Besides, the letter took some time to get delivered by the postman and the news written weren’t news anymore. Nowadays, digital communications had broadened our horizons like never before and changed how we relate. It allows us to connect instantly with more people. Applications such as Whatsapp, Skype, Facebook, Instagram, and so on, allow people who live far apart to keep in touch with their family members, friends, and loved ones regardless of distance.


Why should we still need to learn face-to-face communication today when social media is developing so rapidly?
Face-to-face communication between people in today's society has gradually decreased due to the increasingly developed Internet and the emergence of social software. Personal development is hampered by a lack of practical communication, regardless of age or gender. As a result, many people nowadays are afraid of social interaction, particularly face-to-face communication, making them more lonely. Then it turns into a vicious circle. Some of them complain that they have thousands of friends on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, but none of them can freely and comfortably communicate with them. Most of them are overly reliant on social networking and lack communication skills, causing society to become cold in this modernization. As a result, we must improve our communication skills to foster a welcoming community.









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Critical Thinking

12/24/2021

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"Critical Thinking Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous."
Confucius ​

There was a time when being literate was so simple. It was like being able to read, write, and do arithmetic. According to educators, education is a social development, and being proficient infers that an individual can decipher, produce, comprehend, and investigate language properly. In any case, the comprehension of being proficient in the 21st century has been additionally confounded by the heap of "proficiencies" that come to be perceived. But the modern-day has a different view. Ideas and views are the games of the brain that put the brain constantly into motion to find out a new solution to the problem or a way to lead a happy life. Now, in this case, the term “Critical thinking” comes!

"Critical thinking is not something you do once with an issue and then drop it. It requires that we update our knowledge as new information comes in."
Daniel Levitin

The conception of important thinking came from the mid-20th century. Several nice thinkers and reformers of the earth have outlined the term important thinking in their own words. In simple, important thinking is learning, observing, and analyzing the data fastidiously and giving a conclusion. Critical thinking is, in fact, independent, non-indigent, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. It presupposes assent to rigorous standards of excellence and aware command of their use.

"We must dare to think about ‘unthinkable things’ because when things become ‘unthinkable,’ thinking stops, and action becomes mindless."
J. William Fulbright

Now, it’s time to show the importance of being a critical thinker so that there's a constant partner to claim the question: “Why critical thinking?” Critical thinking is that mode of thinking - regarding any problem, content material, or pull away - at some stage in which the thinker improves the exceptional of his or her wonder with the aid of skillfully taking the price of the systems inherent in questioning and implementing highbrow requirements upon them. A great critical thinker continuously raises significant queries and issues, formulating them truly and specifically. He gathers and assesses relevant know-how, victimizing abstract ideas to interpret them effectively includes nicely-reasoned conclusions and solutions, checking them out towards applicable criteria and requirements. He thinks open-mindedly at periods completely specific structures of concept, recognizing and assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and smart effects; and also, he communicates successfully with others to determine answers to superior concerns.

"Critical thinking is certainly a ‘skill’ but when possessed as a mindset–a playful and humble willingness–it shifts from labor to an art. It asks, ‘Is this true? By what standard?" 
Terry Heick

Critical thinking requires an open and inquiring attitude, several reasoning skills, and knowledge of the basic concepts of critical thinking. Critical thinking skills allow you to recognize and address conditions based totally on all available facts and statistics. Normally, the use of essential thinking at work entails processing and organizing statistics, records, and other records to outline a problem and expand powerful solutions. There need to be a few abilities that might be honestly needed for critical thinking. How many can one wager? Well, here are some of them to help you out! The competencies that one wants to be capable of thinking critically are varied and consist of remark, evaluation, interpretation, evaluation, clarification, problem-solving, and selection making. Specifically, individuals who want to be critical thinkers, need which will think about a topic or difficulty in a goal and important manner, become aware of the different arguments there are about a specific difficulty, examine a point of view to decide how sturdy or legitimate it is, understand any weaknesses or poor factors that there are in the evidence or argument, be aware what implications there might be in the back of a statement or argument, and additionally to provide structured reasoning and guide for an issue that we wish to make. There may be one element for certain and that is, being a vital philosopher can be very much useful to sure specialists and in particular to students. Now, the big question comes, exactly how to use crucial questions for trouble-fixing? Nicely, this might be helpful to folks who want to comply with a few steps to start questioning seriously:
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​Essential questioning skills and thinking critically are crucial in every industry at each professional stage, from entry-stage pals to top executives. Individuals who are critical thinkers can work both independently and with others to solve problems. So, practicing critical thinking these days is a pleasant thing you may have!
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WHY YOUR EQ IS AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR IQ

4/24/2021

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Being in the health science field, we have all faced the pressure of doing well in exams. Having the scores to prove our intelligence and show that we possess the qualifications to move forward is not unique to our profession and ones like it. However, as to-be vets, we deal with animals and wide variety of clients with an even wider range of  emotions. All the book smarts, street smarts and practical knowledge, may not amount to much, if we do not know how to deal with them properly. ​
Everyone is familiar with the infamous estimate of one’s intelligence quotient,  the best measure for intellectual abilities of an individual. People  with the highest IQs are considered to be the smartest in the world. But are they always the most successful?
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Life isn't made up of numbers and scores, nor is it only about fulfilling relationships and interactions. It is about finding balance and thus, success requires a balance between  IQ and EQ. In an emotionally-demanding profession like ours, it can be argued that when dealing with stakes like health or a life, emotional intelligence is equally, if not more  important as the technical knowledge that we often prioritize.
The key skills for building your EQ and improving your ability to manage emotions and connect with others are:
  1. Self-management
  2. Self-awareness
  3. Social awareness
  4. Relationship management
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Self-management

Think about a time when you were overwhelmed. Was it easy to think clearly or make a rational decision? Probably not. When you're stressed, your ability to think accurately assess emotions—your own and those of the people around you—is compromised.

With the ability to manage stress and stay emotionally present, you can learn to go about an emotionally demanding job without letting it get to you.
To engage your EQ, you can start by :
  1. Identify what you're feeling and take a look at the impact of your emotions.   Not all intense emotions are bad. However, letting them change how you react especially in a professional setting    is.
  2. Aim for regulation, not repression.  Bottling up your feelings is the worst way to deal with them. It could lead to worse outburst in the future. You can let yourself feel.
  3. Accept your emotions — all of them.
  4. Know when to express yourself.
  5. On the spot- take a deep breath. Give yourself some space. Keep a mood journal, and write down  a description of what you feel in the moments of  a day.
  6. If it is feasible, one of the best things you can do, is talk to a therapist. While therapy is a big step, it doesn't have to be a big deal.  Whether you are suffering from a mental illness , or momentarily struggling with a specific issue, or simply need some insight into yourself and your feelings- therapy could be beneficial to helping you open up to yourself.
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Self-awareness

Being able to connect to your feelings is the key to understanding how emotion influences your thoughts and actions, and to eventually be able to keep them under check.
Let’s assess how connected you are with your emotions.
  1. Do you experience intense feelings that get both your attention (perhaps through physical sensation in your chest or gut) and that of others?
  2. When you feel individual emotions, are they evident on your face?
  3. How much attention do you pay to your emotions? Do they factor into your decision making?
  4. Do your feelings flow, as your experiences change, or do they feel abrupt?
If you answered no to all of the above questions, there’s a chance you may be suppressing your emotions. To become emotionally healthy, you must reconnect to your core emotions, and become comfortable with them, by practicing mindfulness.
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The cultivation of mindfulness has roots in Buddhism. Prayer or meditation techniques have become widely known for their ability to help calm the mind and the body. It helps shift your thoughts toward appreciating the moment, and brings a larger perspective on life, i.e. self-awareness.

Social awareness

Simply said, social awareness is the ability to read the room. Picking up on the atmosphere, which consists of the emotions of the people around you, is not something everyone is born with, but an acquired skill.
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So to build social awareness, the importance of mindfulness comes up again. Being in the moment, paying attention to subtle cues, both verbal and non-verbal, in others’ actions- these things are impossible if you aren’t mentally present or are simply scrolling on your phone. Let’s look at how to go about it:
  1. Listen. Don’t just hear, but actively listen. When somebody is talking to you, don’t just be in the process of thinking of a response.
  2. Place yourself in their shoes. Letting yourself experience the other’s emotions, to better understand.
  3. Pay attention to their tone and keep an eye on the body language.
  4. Identify your own emotions on the situation and reflect back.​​
You must be wondering what paying heed to other people's emotions has to do with your own. As mentioned, identifying and naming your feelings is one of the first step to working on your EQ. It is always easier to see something in others, than in our own selves.

Relationship management

​Relationships are not confined to only the world of the personal. Professional relationships are one of the most fulfilling parts of a job and can be the key to success for many. Working well with others is a process that begins with emotional awareness and your ability to recognize and understand what other people are experiencing.
  1. Effective communication includes expression: Non-verbal cues don’t only include smiles. Your mouth, forehead and eyebrows and especially your eyes, can give away how you truly feel. Recognizing the nonverbal messages that you send to others plays a huge part in improving your relationships. 
    However, keep in mind that while reading other's demeanor is important, it should not take the place of actual communication in a relationship.
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 2. Use of humor: Humor and laughter bring your stressed mind into check, to help calm down, sharpen your mind to put things into perspective.
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3. Conflict can be an opportunity to grow closer:  Don't run from arguments or disagreements. Sometimes the truth needed to resolve an issue only comes out when people are upset. So, within reason, letting emotions take over isn’t necessarily a bad thing. When conflict isn’t perceived as threatening or punishing, it fosters freedom, creativity, and safety in relationships. 
It’s important to remember that there is a difference between simply learning about EQ and applying that knowledge to your life. Just because you know you should do something doesn’t mean you will—especially when overwhelmed by stress, it is hard to put theory into practice. 

So practice mindfulness  and ways to feel all your emotions and thus regulate them effectively in your day to day life, so the good habit enforces itself when you need it most.
 For more on the subject, check out the sources we   used:
1. The Meaning of Emotional Intelligence

https://www.ihhp.com/meaning-of-emotional-intelligence/
2. Improving emotional intelligence - an article on  helpguide.org
3. Emotional Intelligence  . Developing Strong "People Skills" 
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCDV_59.htm

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THE ROLE OF LEADER IN A VETERINARY PRACTICE

3/27/2021

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So you got the job? Congratulations, new head doctor! But now comes the hard part: Keeping the job.  Here are some tips  on how to be a leader that your team and your clients can trust.
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Conducting your Business/ What To Do:

Delegate and Empower

Having the right team allows you to lead rather than just manage. When each member of a team has their own role to play, the practice can function smoothly. 

  • This means setting up an organizational structure, a ‘Who Will Answer to Whom’ system to increase efficiency. A system like this one adheres to the Autocratic or Authoritative leadership, which is a common style in work spaces like hospitals. Even if your practice functions more as a team, it is still vital to maintain order while consulting each other.
  • Setting up the chain of command varies depending on the size of the practice and number of employees. Team members need to understand whom they report to and whom they should go to with questions or concerns.
  • As the head of the organizational structure, you must be responsible enough to keep this hierarchy strictly professional. Remember that  it is to  increase productivity in the workplace, not to  give anyone power to be lorded over their colleagues.​

Effective Time Management

Leading efficiently includes enforcing effective time management.

  • If you notice that most of your time is going into reacting to problems and dealing with dissatisfied customers, there may be a problem with your management style. You may not be delegating effectively and are thus not being as productive as you can be. 
  • Being the leader, you will have demanding roles beyond that of a veterinarian. We have already discussed the importance of forming a chain of command to see that everything is being covered by the assigned personnel. ​
  • Take the steps toward seeing that everyone has a clear idea about their work for the day, for example: putting up a board with the week's appointments, or keeping a computerized  planner that everyone has access to.
  • This should help remind each  member and employee  about their pending work and to refrain from spending time on things  that are not  a priority.​
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  • As for managing one's personal  schedule, on this very blog, you can find effective methods of time management to share with your squad.

Establish lines of communication

Making clear lines of communication and a system for sending out news, is setting your team up for success.  
  • Many practices find it helpful to use email or hospital newsletters to share announcements and information on minor issues.
  • Face-to-face meetings are often necessary to discuss important issues or convey sensitive information or have an interactive session.
  • Be sure to inform your crew  about the methods of communication and how they are to work, to keep your practice running smoothly.

Conducting yourself/How to be:

Lighten up  

Imagine a stressful day at the clinic. Everyone rushing about, many clients waiting for their prescriptions, more patients waiting to be examined, the occasional pet yowling in the background… You get the picture. 
A veterinarian's job is frustrating enough, but as leader,  the weight of making the big decisions may be heavy on your shoulders. For your own mental health and  that of your  team, you should learn to lighten up.

  • ​Even in the face of great pressue - a tough case, a lengthy operation- as the leader, you must be able to lift your colleagues' spirits in the gloomiest of times.
  • At a workplace where tension is a part of the job, you have to find a way to look at stress with a positive outlook, for your and your team’s mental health, so as to keep up the good work.
  • Maintaining a solid relationship with all of your staff is a start. 
  • A good sense of humor will take you and your team a long way. In dire times, a smile or laugh give your team, your clients and likely even the pets who have come to be treated, the encouragement they need to stay  positive and soldier on. 
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Be humble

No one likes a show-off, right? Naturally, no one likes to be led by one either. Humility is a critical trait in a strong individual, and strength is crucial for leadership. This is one of the rarer attributes of good leaders because it means putting aside one’s ego.
‘Humility isn't thinking less of yourself-it's thinking of yourself less.'                                                                                                                            ~C.S Lewis
As mentioned in the importance of being open-minded in the previous article, finding the balance between the confidence as a role model and the overconfidence of being centre-focus, is crucial .
Remember: you are the boss but your crew does not constitute of subordinates, but of capable doctors. They are the ones who give your title as leader meaning, because without them there would be no  team to lead, so treat them well.

Inspire and Motivate

Coming down to its definition, leadership is the ability to “inspire, influence and guide others to participate in a common effort.”  
Real leaders don’t just bark orders, they take part in the process, by using effective communication and motivation to help their squads take action, and make progress.
​On the way, remember to involve them, ask for their input, keep them informed, and give timely and specific feedback. 
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So good luck! Whether you're just starting out as head doctor or you have had earlier experience, there's always room for improvement. Hopefully, these tips will bring you closer to you, your team and your practice closer to your goal. 
For more on the subject,  check out the resources we used:

1.  The 7 Most Common Leadership Styles (and How to Find Your Own) -https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/business/trends-and-insights/articles/the-7-most-common-leadership-styles-and-how-to-find-your-own/
2.  5 veterinary leadership skills every boss needs to learn - 
https://www.dvm360.com/view/5-veterinary-leadership-skills-every-boss-needs-learn
3.   Who Are the Leaders in Your Practice? Growing a Healthy Practice Through Leadership -https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/practice-building-leaders-practice-growing-healthy-practice-leadership/
4. Understanding veterinary leadership in practice- https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/267018976.pdf
5.   How to be a great leader at work - https://www.avma.org/education/leadership-development/how-be-great-leader-work
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WHAT DOES BEING A LEADER MEAN ?

3/24/2021

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Remember back in school, when a teacher would group you into teams and ask someone to take over as leader. Were you the one who volunteered up front to lead the team? Were you sitting on the side, willing to let the others step up? Or perhaps you waited to see if anyone else wanted to, and then threw your hat in the ring?  
There are 7 basic styles of leadership, to suit all the different types of teams and their captains:
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The leadership styles that you would respond to, or the style you would command your team with, vary from person to person. But whichever one you were or are now, the importance of leadership and of having someone to guide a team is universally acknowledged.
Some people are blessed with characteristics that make a great leader, and some less lucky people have to work their way up to the position. Thus, with the right qualities and the ability to apply them- they can’t just be empty words on a resume, right?- one can learn to lead.

So what are these qualities?

Being confident

This is the most important prerequisite for applying to a position of leadership. Because when you aim higher, you must have confidence in yourself to do so; People can believe in someone who believes in themselves.
However, finding the line between being poised or confident and being over-confident and cocky is the deciding factor between whether your team will want to follow you.

Communicating well

Communication is an understated soft skill. How you express yourself to others is vital and if done poorly, it can make for a person who is hard to trust, or believe in. Would you leave the success of your team in the hands of someone unreliable?
Great leaders are clear, truthful and genuine; consistency shows a grounded presence. It shows that you are someone who can be counted on by your teammates or juniors.​
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Being a Role Model

If you’ve ever worked at a clinic, or even been to one: you must have observed it. The way that the junior doctors look up to the head doctor. Before making a final diagnosis, giving an important prescription, or deciding on the manner of treatment, they will confirm with the main doctor.
As a leader, you must be one to set the standard for your team. Your actions, your behaviour and decisions must be an example to the others to follow. And thus you can be held accountable by them.
And so leaders who work hard and are polite to their team and clients, all while providing consistent care to patients, gain respect and naturally encourage others to be the same.

Having an open-mind

Have you ever liked those team captains who did not have room for suggestions from their teams? They were never wrong and did not like to be corrected. 
Leadership is not for Know-it-alls. If it were, the team would have a dull atmosphere where people stop sharing ideas and don’t enjoy participating.
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A good leader knows only one thing for certain: that they are not always right. Accepting different opinions and listening to new ideas shows that they know that they don’t have all the answers, and gives the team members chances to contribute.
So keep your ears and eyes open!

Taking Responsibility

One of the best qualities of a leader is being able to accept responsibility for their team. If and when something goes wrong, leaders are to do less complaining and assigning blame, and more focussing on the problem and finding the solution. 
‘With great power, comes great responsibility.’ ~ Uncle Ben,                                                                                                                                                                      Spiderman
 It may just be a cliche quote from a Marvel comic, but it means something very important: the power to lead is accompanied by the strength to shoulder the weight of your team. If you are ready to take the credit for your team’s success, then you also need to be prepared to take the blame, should your team fail.

Providing a Vision

Having a vision for your entire veterinary team is the main role of a practice owner or leader. This is because knowing where you and your practice will stand in the years to come, is a significant part of securing the position of leader itself. Who would trust a leader who has no plan for the future?
And once you have a doable objective, share it with your practice, so your employees know what they’re working towards. When team members know the vision and goals of the practice, they understand how their individual role helps to drive the success of the business.
​Consider implementing team meetings, so you have a dedicated time to share the vision and discuss its progress. 
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And those  are fundamental qualities you find in a leader, and what people will look for,  in the person in charge.
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If you are reading this to learn what are the basic necessities in a leader, in order to apply for the job, then these are the most essential things to be worked on. Good luck!
If you have acquired your desired position of leadership, and are looking for how to do the job well, stay tuned for the next article, where you will learn  what is expected of a good leader.
For more on the subject,  check out the resources we used:

1.  The 7 Most Common Leadership Styles (and How to Find Your Own) -https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/business/trends-and-insights/articles/the-7-most-common-leadership-styles-and-how-to-find-your-own/
2.  5 veterinary leadership skills every boss needs to learn - 
https://www.dvm360.com/view/5-veterinary-leadership-skills-every-boss-needs-learn
3.   Who Are the Leaders in Your Practice? Growing a Healthy Practice Through Leadership -https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/practice-building-leaders-practice-growing-healthy-practice-leadership/
4.   Understanding veterinary leadership in practice- https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/267018976.pdf
5.   How to be a great leader at work - https://www.avma.org/education/leadership-development/how-be-great-leader-work
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HOW TO HANDLE DIFFICULT CLIENTS IN A PROFESSIONAL WAY

1/11/2021

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Picture this: You head home after a long day at the clinic, ready to crash. The day has been especially tiring, but it hadn’t been the poor adorable patients who’d needed help, nor had it been the load of taxing paperwork. It had been the people. Client after client, with all kinds of different questions, problems and demands.
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Every practice has them: clients who make you want to find a task to do all the way in the back. Who set off a frantic game of rock-paper-scissors amongst the workers to determine who has to deal with them. Anything to avoid another confrontation. ​
In August 2017, surveys were taken from almost 225 veterinary clinic employees, regarding clashes and disputes at work. Almost all respondents said they’ve experienced some manner of conflict within their practice. Clinic workers realized that they had knowingly been engaging in conflict  by engaging in unhelpful behaviours, such as raising their voices, yelling at the clients, or giving the silent-treatment to colleagues, i.e. contributing to or fueling a conflict.
This means that we are part of the problem. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but the fact is we need each other's help.  We need to learn to handle disputes maturely and work  towards avoiding it in the first place.
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Let us take a look at some of the regulars that you find at  every clinic, and how to better deal with any problematic behaviour instead of resorting to unprofessional conduct like  avoiding them, ignoring them or getting into an argument with them.

The Regular Client

The Regular Client has the best intentions. They visit at least twice a week, with a detailed account of their pet's status, often going beyond their allotted appointment time. They feel  familiar enough with you and the staff, to stop you guys if they see you around town, and  pepper you with  questions.
This kind of client sounds exhausting to deal with. However, they are likely some of the top patients at your clinic. Losing them will put a huge dent in your practice's revenue. 
Tips to handle them:
  • Don't be rude if you encounter them outside the practice. Assure them  it's good to see them, but tell them you want to hear all about their pet and to call you at the clinic.
  • Schedule the extra time with the doctor and charge appropriately. Tell them, "We typically schedule 15-minute per patient but we can  offer an extended appointment for this amount, so   that  all your que ries can be solved."​
  • Unless it's an emergency, ask  them to make a list of questions to bring with them to the appointment. This should   decrease the number of times they   call your practice with queries.
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The Miserly Client

The  Miser wants their pet treated for free. Apparently, they do not have hard cash, or NetBanking or any of their cards on them at the time, and they only inform you of this at the end of the appointment. 
Now,  these clients are a bother, but it is imperative to deal with them as soon as possible because they are taking advantage of your services, resources and time.
Tips to handle them:
  • Do not compromise   with   your charges.   It undermines the value of your services.
  •  Ask  at the beginning of every appointment, "What form of payment will you be using today?"
  • If and when a procedure is to be conducted, make it clear that payment is expected   consequently. 

The Skeptical Client

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The Skeptical Client's new pet isn't behaving quite like the aesthetic pictures they’ve seen on Instagram. As we are aware, taking care of young animals takes time and patience.  But they have consulted several  experts and to any solution they're given, they have an answer as to why it won't work.

​This type of client can be hard to work with. Handling him requires determination, but he has a problem you can solve.
Tips to handle them:
  • Assure them that the solutions they've  been given, take time and patience,  and that they should give them a try.
  • Don't offer too many  alternatives. This  contradicts your point that the solutions that they've been given are actually effective.
  • Check-in with them after a few days to see how things are going.
  • Make sure they're aware that they cannot expect results as soon as they would like, and unless they   stick   to it,  they will not see the improvement they want.

The Critical Client

The Critic is rude to the staff and even to other clients. They like to slam anything within sight, including coworkers and other clients. They come in many different shapes and sizes but we’ve all seen them and, inspite of yourself, you may have even let your frustration get the better of you while dealing with them.
Tips to handle them:
  • Be professional. Keep all traces of animosity from your voice. 
  • Make sure their  visit is solely about the work and take care of their  needs as quickly and efficiently as possible.
  • Treat them respectfully and demand the same courtesy. Try saying, "We just want  to help you.   When you speak to us rudely, it's hard to focus on the issue at hand."
  • ​If they simply won't comply, don’t hesitate to tell them your practice will no longer be providing services for them and their pet/s.

The Disapproving Client

This client has something to complain about everytime they walk into the clinic.  "Why was I made to wait for so long?"  "Where is half of your staff?" "Why have the charges increased?" "Why can't I just use the same medication again?"   And (our personal favourite) "Why can’t you tell me what's wrong with my pet without any diagnostics?"
Tips to handle them:
  • These clients just want to be sure they are heard and validated. 
  • Try to turn negatives into positives: "We're sorry that you had to wait for  so long, but now the   head doctor is free to see you!"
  • Explain things very clearly, “I wish I could tell you what is wrong with your pet based on his first exam alone. There are 3 main things I think could be going on. Some additional standard  tests  will help me confirm which one of them it is.”
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The 'Intellectual' Client

The Intellectual already knows what is wrong with his pet. They have researched the symptoms on Pet WebMD and the signs are the same as when they had brought him in a few years ago. They are sure that they just need a simple prescription.
Clients that are not ready to listen to the doctor's advice can be very difficult, but if properly handled,  you can reach out to them.  After all, if they truly believed they had all the answers, they wouldn't have to come to the clinic. 
 Tips to handle them:
  • Be polite if you can. If they insist their pet has XYZ, acknowledge it, "It is one of the possibilities. And when we confirm it, we can be speedy with the treatment."
  • Do make an exam room available for them  as quickly as you can. They  may not know as much as they think about veterinary care and might offer incorrect information to other waiting clients.​
  • Educate them. They enjoy being in the know, obviously, and giving them  accurate     information might help   them   to make better choices for their pet.
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  • Unless you have determined that a simple prescription is indeed what the pet requires, don't give in without doing your job.
  • Don't engage in arguments about  opinions or diagnoses. It is rude and usually pointless.

The Panicking Client

These clients are scary for even  experienced vets to deal with.

​It's an emergency. This client rushes in with their pet, almost hysterical, needing immediate help. But in addition to their fright about losing a beloved one, they're worried about how costly the treatment may be. Some unfortunate vets might even have to hear.
“If I can’t pay, you’re just going to let my pet die?”


Given that 95% of pet owners consider pets family members; most of them feel the same about their pets’ emergencies as they would their child's.  They are  often daunted by the  thought of being in debt after expensive procedures and treatments and act out.
Tips to handle them:
  • You cannot proceed without their go-ahead, so you need them to be thinking clearly.   You have to try   to calm them, allowing them  to make proper  decisions.  
  • Guide the client to a quiet place to have a private conversation, showing them that you're giving them your full attention.
  • Give a detailed account of the plan, going step by step to make it less overwhelming to hear.
  • 43% of pet owners would decline procedures due to cost. Acknowledge their  concerns, and be sympathetic as you share financial solutions. 
  • Show them how to apply, “I understand you’re worried about the cost of your pet’s emergency care. We offer a payment plan for approved clients, which has six months of deferred interest. Would (so-so amount) per month work?” 
These are  a  few ways  how you can avoid conflict in the workplace, but they're more guidelines than sure-fire methods. Learning how to deal with difficult people is usually something that comes with time and practice.

So rather than avoiding going in to work, or hiding in an alleyway when you see a client you recognize walking down the street. Face them and be firm, and you will be a better vet for it!
Resources:   
1. NAVC   Veterinary Solutions for Dealing with Difficult   People
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGf2OzJ-ANk
2.    How to Approach Difficult Situations: It's Not Always About the Medicine
Elisa A. Rogers CVT, VTS(ECC) Matthew J Ryan Veterinary Hospital, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa 
3. 5  most difficult  veterinary clients  -   Hall Johnson,   Debbie Allaben Gair
https://www.dvm360.com/view/5-most-difficult-veterinary-clients

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NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS? DON'T DROP THEM AFTER A WEEK!

12/28/2020

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It's New Year season  and we're all making a mental list of resolutions and of things we didn't get done last year. So where's the motivation that's gonna see us  through and get us to complete what we hadn't the year before?
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Lack of motivation has a variety of causes ranging from not achieving set goals in an imagined timeframe to lacking skills or knowledge to complete the task to just being plain bored. ​
And so we’ve compiled a few reasons why you may be avoiding your work or not getting to the task at hand and how to deal with them.

1. Your goal is overwhelming you.

When you think or talk about this task, all that comes to mind is ‘Aghh’. You are dreading it so much. You can’t see yourself getting it done — it’s just too much! As a result, you procrastinate on getting started and the work snowballs.

What to do: Break it down. If you read our last article on Time Management, then you must already be a pro with splitting a seemingly insurmountable load of work into manageable chunks to take one step at a time. Take each day as it comes, and keep yourself organized by noting down what you’ve accomplished.
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2. You don’t believe in yourself.

You want to do this, but deep down, you truly don’t believe you can. And it’s eating away at your motivation with thoughts like “Why are you even trying? You won’t get there anyway…”                                                

For a quick fix: Look at your past achievements and remind yourself how much you managed to achieve to get where you are today. You’ve been through so much- you’re not about to give up now. 


If you find yourself constantly struggling with your self-esteem and doubting your abilities, you need to identify your limiting beliefs and replace them with empowering ones. In order to achieve big, bold goals, you need to upgrade your mindset with a new set of empowering beliefs that will get you the necessary confidence to take on your goals.
“Life is so subtle sometimes that you barely notice yourself walking through the doors you once prayed would open.”                                                                     ~Mounaks

3. You lack a strong reason why.

You may not want to admit it to yourself, but you are not actually interested in doing it; you either just don’t see the point or the reward is just not attractive enough. Either you:
  • Don’t do it.   You'll doing  yourself a huge favour. 
                                    OR
  • Find a strong WHY under the surface: If you can’t quit - because it is part of your job or you don’t want to break a promise- you need to change your perspective. Think about the task differently. 
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4. You are simply exhausted.

There is too much going on in your life. So many things to do and to be taken care of. When everything else is taking up your physical and mental energy, there is simply nothing left for you to push hard towards your goal.
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What to do: Free up your energy and reprioritize! Rest, de-stress and sleep enough to recharge your batteries. Take a break to clear your head with meditation or something peaceful that you enjoy. If the will to continue is still in you, it’ll come back when your mind is less cluttered.
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​5. Fear of failure is holding you back.

Your fear of failure is keeping you from gathering the motivation to get started. This goes for taking a big step in your career, changing the direction you’re going in and it takes courage. 

What to do: Get clear about what you are afraid of, how it is holding you back and how this fear shows up in your life. Understanding this is the basis for coming up with a specific strategy to deal with your fear. Talk to someone with more experience or a person who has taken similar steps and learn from them.
"Great things never came from comfort zones." 
​~Ben Francia

​7. You set your goals too small or too big.

If you’re feeling dispirited i.e. demotivated from trying to achieve what you want, you may not be setting the correct goals. You may either be planning to do too little, which is practically equal to thinking, ‘It’s small, I’ll do it later.’ or you may be planning to do too much, which overwhelms you before you even begin.
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What to do:  Both ends of the spectrum are not great for your morale. Plan enough to do in a day- don’t underestimate yourself. And yes, dream big — but let the big dreams stay in the big picture. Set your weekly goals in a manageable way and you’ll find yourself able to achieve them.
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​8. You are impatient.

You’re frustrated because you thought you’d be there by now. You thought all that extra time you’d been spending at the clinic, those late hours studying would pay off. 

What to do: Understand that good things take time. Focus on the progress you’ve made so far and even celebrate little milestones along the way. Enjoy the journey, because it is as much a reward as achieving your goal.  
Nothing worth having comes easy.” ~Theodore Roosevelt
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​These are a few of the most common reasons why the average person finds themselves feeling demotivated to continue to work at it. The simple ‘fixes’ and ‘what-to-do’s are not easy remedies and may not be for everyone.

But once you find what works for you, then you’ll figure out how to avoid getting demotivated in the future. And if you’ve already found what works for you, then hey! What are you still doing here? Go make New Year's resolutions that you  can actually keep.
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LOOKING TO BE MOTIVATED IN 2021? YOU’RE NOT ALONE!

12/22/2020

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Motivation is the process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviors in order to achieve milestones and dreams in one’s life. Motivation is not usually an ocean of abundance but more like a seasonal stream that will fill up and flow in the favourable conditions, while sometimes it may dry up  or even freeze over. ​
Getting motivated is easy enough for many of us. We can watch one TED talk by an inspirational doctor, or  be super inspired by a sudden New Year's Resolution to do better which makes us want to hit the books. Everyone is a fan of the infamous work high, when for that one day, you’re ready to complete all your work and additionally take over the world.
​The hard part is staying motivated, through the cycle of success and failure that is life. Getting trapped in that never-ending spiral of procrastination feels like a one-way trip, when in fact with the right help and tools, you can get back on track and stay on track.

But what happens when you do go off track? 

As to-be vets, we experience things like burn out, loss of motivation and compassion fatigue more often than in the average profession.
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Compassion fatigue is related to the burden felt from caring for suffering people and animals. It is the emotional residue and strain of being exposed to those with trauma. Burnout on the other hand is the physical and emotional exhaustion we feel when we don’t have control over things that are causing stress and frustration. 
A dvm360 survey in 2015 asked, “What is your biggest stress on the job ?”  Only 1% of veterinarians answered euthanasia and only 5% mentioned critical patients. The largest groups answered time management issues (23%) and difficult clients (21%).
To phrase it with less numbers and statistics, we know that demotivation from a certain job or task, stems from the unhappiness and stress that comes with doing that job or task. 
Everyone has heard of “Do what you love and love what you do.” Most of us try our best to adhere to it when making important decisions about our career and our relationships. But research shows that when our brain- the voice of reason- and our heart- the voice of passion, do not speak in unison, we tend to lose sight of our goal and why we wanted to achieve it. So when we get wrapped up in the problems that come with the territory, the desire to fight through them no longer burns inside.
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1/2: Need Motivation? The 3C-Check for Success & Happiness
Source
​There are two basic ways to drive ourselves onward:
Intrinsic motivation is the act of doing something without any obvious external rewards. You do it solely because it is enjoyable and interesting to you. This is the ideal type of drive because there is usually very little for you to turn away from doing something you love.
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1/2: Need Motivation? The 3C-Check for Success & Happiness
Source
Extrinsic motivation refers to behavior that is driven by external rewards such as money, fame, grades, and praise. While this inherently sounds like a bad idea, because not every task you do will always be rewarded, it’s a good way to get yourself to do an aspect of the job that you dislike. ​​
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1/2: Need Motivation? The 3C-Check for Success & Happiness
Source
Both extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation spur human behavior. Understanding how each type of motivation works and when it is likely to be useful should help you get  back to the work you've been avoiding.

Finding Motivation

So chances are, you’ve been in a situation where you’ve had second thoughts about what you’re doing. “I can’t do this anymore” or “Why am I even here?” 
It's as simple as taking a break. Use this time to evaluate the work that you’ve done so far and to estimate what you need to accomplish your goal. This is to help you take a step back and re-prioritize, while looking at it from a different perspective; seeing at it as a big picture should remind you why you wanted to achieve this in the first place.
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Losing your motivation is common. Very common and not just among vets and aspiring vet students. After all, anyone reading this came here looking for a solution. It is our goal to help and we’re not about to lose sight of it.
Regaining your motivation and getting back on track should be just as common. But how can you keep pushing on, even when you don’t feel like it? Check out our next article for some answers and on how to regain your motivation for this next year and get going!
For more on the topics mentioned in this article and to check out where we got our information from, visit:
Regaining Motivation In Medical School- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6006981/
Factors associated with motivation in medical education: a path analysis- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6006981/
Burnout in veterinary medicine: Let’s talk action- https://vetidealist.com/burnout-veterinary-medicine/#:~:text=The%20recent%20Merck%20Animal%20Health,topped%20the%20list%20of%20problems.
Burnout and health promotion in veterinary medicine- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3711171/
1/2: Need Motivation? The 3C-Check for Success & Happiness-   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9a-xrPjFqQ&feature=youtu.be

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