When Greg Bishop, a veterinarian, writer, and cartoonist, first learned nonviolent communication in veterinary medicine, it transformed how he dealt with difficult clients. What once felt like a precarious challenge became an opportunity to turn clients from ferocious lions into purring kitties.

Nonviolent communication is about staying aware of your own emotions during interactions. As Greg says, "Keep it Vertical." Acknowledge that "I have needs, you have needs—let’s work together to meet them." This mindset protects you from harmful comments, allowing you to stay focused on helping the client.

Greg shares real-life stories, including one where he took over a case involving a critically ill puppy. The client’s first phone call started with a tirade of complaints. Instead of getting triggered, Greg paused and thought, What does she need? By coaching the client to stay calm, he helped the team deliver life-saving care.

New to nonviolent communication? Greg suggests:

• Be patient and understanding
• Be as self-confident as possible
• Stay aware of your feelings and emotions

Clear communication and emotional awareness are key. If you listen, your client will tell you what matters to them, creating a richer experience for both of you.

You can follow Greg’s cartoons, blog, and more at his website, Sasquatch Paw.

What’s Inside:

• What is nonviolent communication?
• Steps to get started with nonviolent communication techniques.
• How nonviolent communication can impact client cases.
• Being emotionally self-aware and listening can tell you all you need to know right away.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Sasquatch Paw
Full Circle Lab
Crystal Stokes on LinkedIn

Dr. Glenn Robinson is a clinical coach and consultant who supports veterinary leaders, especially with clinic finances. Often, leaders are hesitant to discuss money, but finances play a crucial role in supporting your staff. Whether you’re experiencing a downturn in clients, facing equipment expenses, or looking to give your team a raise, being open and candid about clinic financials can help leaders put a plan in place to use money as the TOOL that it is.

Debunking Myths and Red Flags in Clinic Financials:

• Money is a dirty word: The biggest mistake is avoiding conversations about finances—especially about setting goals.
• Working harder = more money: Initially, yes, but over time it can lead to burnout and create other problems that may actually result in financial loss.
• Increasing prices, seeing more pets, and keeping costs low: These three common “levers” aren’t the real answer. Understanding clinic financials is more nuanced than that.

Finances aren’t just a leadership issue. When you get everyone involved in the financial goals, you can motivate the team to buy in and take ownership of the clinic's success. Dr. Glenn shares excellent examples of how to provide thorough, thoughtful care while compensating for lost revenue. It’s a win for both the client and the clinic—better care almost always correlates with better financials.

What’s Inside:

• How can clinic leaders get there team involved in clinic financials?
• How clinic finances impact your staff and clients.
• 3 “Myths” about clinic financials.
• Why better care equals better financials.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Southwest Veterinary Solutions
Dr. Glenn Robinson on LinkedIn
Full Circle Lab
Crystal Stokes on LinkedIn

Dr. Jennifer Edwards has lived what I call a full-circle life, combining her passions for conscious leadership and veterinary medicine. Before addressing how to "wake up" in your life, we explore the concept of living on autopilot—a condition affecting many. Jennifer describes the symptoms as dissatisfaction, feeling stuck, disempowerment, and a resignation to a “sucky life.” We dissect the disempowering phrase, “it is what it is.”

But what if you reject that mindset? What if you connect with yourself, wake up to your life, and realize you have a conscious choice? This is the heart of our conversation: taking responsibility for your life and every choice you make. Jennifer highlights the obstacles that often prevent people from embracing this—energy blocks (limiting beliefs) and guilt (imagined consequences of our choices).

Authenticity and responsibility are gifts, not only to yourself but to others. By seeking help, whether through a coach, therapy, or self-improvement books, you empower yourself to navigate challenges. Responsibility doesn’t just solve problems—it defines your life, placing your happiness firmly in your own hands instead of others'.

What’s Inside:

• Taking accountability and responsibility for the choices in your life.
• Obstacles and barriers to making conscious choices.
• How taking responsibility for our lives can impact everyone around us.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Dr. Jennifer Edwards
Book a Free Connection Call
Free e-book "3 Keys to Rediscovering Joy and Happiness in Your Life and Career"
Full Circle Lab
Crystal Stokes, MA, LMFT - Full Circle Lab | LinkedIn

Are you entering a leadership position? Today, Dr. Sarah Gillings shares her leadership development journey and offers insights on how others stepping into leadership can make their desired impact.

Dr. Sarah gets right into the basics. Before you become a leader, you really don’t know what you don’t know. She reminds us that people pay much more attention to you than you realize, and your influence is significant. What you model will be echoed throughout your team. Additionally, you need to set explicit expectations for “The Bar,” AKA the minimum effort you expect from your team.

We discuss the importance of supporting your team in taking on more than just basic skills. By aiding in their advancement and not making assumptions about what they can handle, you can provide a sense of agency and growth in their careers—something critical to job satisfaction. Dr. Sarah provides a great example of training by scaffolding knowledge and expertise.

Communication style is another important factor that Dr. Sarah discusses. As team members step into leadership roles, whether you're a hospital manager or a DVM, providing what we call a “Leader Operating Manual” for your team can be extremely valuable. While it does take work and requires setting aside your ego, letting your team know what makes you tick and what you expect can create a consistent and comfortable work environment.

What’s Inside:

• What should you know as a new leader?
• How leaders influence their team.
• Communication matters when it comes to leading your team.
• Supporting your team with advancement and agency.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Sarah Gillings on LinkedIn
Full Circle Lab
Crystal Stokes on LinkedIn

We are operating in a time where diverse generations like the Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials, and even some Gen Z, are working together in one clinic. These individuals come with varying backgrounds, lifestyles, and lived experiences that all impact the way they work. Dr. Craig Clifford joins me with his perspective as an overworking, burnout-prone Gen X.

Dr. Clifford explains the mindset shift that has had to occur as younger generations bring in the value of self-care and quality of life over productivity and higher income. Older generations may be quick to point the finger and claim these younger generations “aren’t hard workers,” but with veterinary suicides at such a high rate, it poses the thought that maybe we all should be focusing on work-life balance a little more.

So how can you bridge that gap in your practice?

1. Create connections outside the clinic—get to know your peers and see them for more than just their position at work.
2. Pair up—when it comes to CEs, get those diverse generations together to share their different views and work together.
3. Workshops—sometimes it can be fun to get talking about the elephant in the room; be intentional about talking about the unique benefits your generation brings to the clinic.

Dr. Clifford shares some of these tips and more insight on why every generation is important in the clinic and how even more powerful it is when we work together.

What’s Inside:

• How can such diverse generations work together?
• The pros and cons of each generation?
• Tips to use in your practice to create cohesion in the age gap.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Craig Clifford on Facebook
Craig Clifford on LinkedIn
Craig Clifford (@oncvet22) on Instagram
The Boy Who Wanted To be A Veterinarian: Conor's Journey
Full Circle Lab
Crystal Stokes on LinkedIn

Today I am joined by Tedd Trabert and Dr. Bill Wagner of Associated Veterinary Partners. AVP is a veterinarian-founded and veterinarian-operated network of veterinary hospitals, managing 16 partner practice locations across 12 states in the U.S. Unlike many others, AVP is not controlled by private equity; all partner locations are co-owned by AVP and local practice leaders. This unique partnership model allows AVP to combine the strengths of both independent and corporate ownership, providing resources and support to partner practices while maintaining their local culture, values, and medical autonomy.

‘Love What You Do Again, Join AVP’ is a slogan Tedd uses as a hallmark of the heart of AVP and what it's like to work with them. We discuss how they provide hope to the new generation of vets, putting ownership in their grasp. Working with AVP as a partner involves putting culture and relationships at the forefront of the practice while their team supports you in finding your voice as a leader. Dr. Wagner explains the autonomous process of working with AVP, along with having access to support and guidance as you grow your confidence. This is truly a new opportunity for all in the vet med industry.

Those interested in learning more about AVP can visit yourvetpartner.com. AVP welcomes connections with current practice owners planning their practice transition, aspiring practice owners interested in co-ownership opportunities with AVP, and veterinary team members seeking roles at one of the partner practices or at the AVP Success Center.

What’s Inside:

• What kind of partnership does AVP offer?
• A new option for veterinarians in practice leadership.
• Support AND autonomy in practice ownership.
• Keeping the entrepreneurial spirit alive with the new generation of vets.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Associated Veterinary Partners
Full Circle Lab
Crystal Stokes on LinkedIn

Our guest today is Meghan Bingham, Vet Advisor at Granite Peak Associates. During our conversation, she emphasized the importance of realigning the team within a veterinary clinic to foster positive energy, professionalism, and psychological safety. Daily challenges such as cranky clients, the grief of euthanasia, and unfortunate medical mistakes can lead to negative attitudes, toxic behavior, and tension among team members. Recognizing signs like microaggression and pervasive negativity is crucial in identifying the need for a reset. Professionalism plays a pivotal role in this process, encompassing appropriate workplace conversations, a clean and neat appearance, and the use of professional language and correct medical terms. Meghan suggests using a “code word” as a gentle reminder for team members to maintain professional behavior without being overbearing.

Effective onboarding and communication are essential to maintaining a positive team dynamic. Revamping the handbook language to be engaging and easy to consume, along with including key words that capture attention, can significantly enhance focus and retention. Validating feelings while encouraging the team to move forward helps maintain morale. Providing space for team members to acknowledge their grief, such as through art therapy, can also mitigate tension. An "if this, then that" mentality fosters structured problem-solving without placing blame, promoting a supportive and collaborative environment.

During a team reset, it’s vital to collectively define professionalism and address the most significant issues. We recommend incorporating a professional and personal peak activity weekly or daily to keep the team’s energy positive. By implementing these strategies, clinics can create a more cohesive and positive work environment, ensuring both staff well-being and optimal patient care. You can find more from Meghan Bingham on her LinkedIn.

What’s Inside:

• Recognizing when your team needs to realign.
• What causes negativity and attention in a clinic?
• Using onboarding to inform and lead the team.
• Collaborating within the clinic to solve problems and reset.

Mentioned In This Episode:
mbingham@granitepeakcpa.com
Meghan S. Bingham, BA, CVPM - Veterinary Advisor - Granite Peak Associates | LinkedIn
Full Circle Lab
Crystal Stokes on LinkedIn

Jake McCormack is the Leadership Trainer at Veterinary Practice Partners, but he is also a Retired Marine Corps Combat Veteran. This unlikely transition of careers is actually more connected than one might think.

During our powerful and emotional conversation, Jake shares his experiences in the military with trauma, loss, and mental health struggles. These are some of the same difficulties at their core that members of the vet med space also experience. Including an epidemic in suicides. Why? What is lacking in support?

That’s where Jakes expertise in resilience comes in. He shares the central elements of resilience that are critical to veterinarians and their teams. These must be built into permanent systems so that all vets have access. We also can’t forget our tribe, our teams, and those support people we lean on. This is a crucial piece of resilience; you don’t have to go through difficult times alone.

Jake is such an inspiration and support to those in the field; if you’re in need of some extra support and a little hype, don’t be afraid to reach out!

What’s Inside:

• Jake McCormack’s personal story of resilience.
• Drawing comparisons in the worlds of military and veterinary medicine.
• Creating resilience and support in the vet med space.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Jake McCormack (@jakefromvpp) on Instagram
Jake McCormack on LinkedIn
Full Circle Lab
Crystal Stokes on LinkedIn