Rich Casey, VMG President
VMG And VDS Join Forces To Help Veterinary Staff Deliver ‘Sustainable Change’
4 years ago 
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‘Practical strategies for delivering change in the real world’ will be on offer during a series of one-day online workshops, called ‘Leading Change in Veterinary Practice,’ run jointly by the Veterinary Management Group (VMG) and VDS Training during 2020.
The two associations have teamed up to support veterinary leaders coping with an unprecedented rate of change in the profession and in the way it delivers its services to patients and owners, which has only been accelerated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The workshops will be practical and interactive with delegates carrying out exercises and self-assessments, as well as practising new skills. They will be invited to discuss common challenges, think about changes they plan to implement in their business and will leave with tools and strategies tailored to their needs.
Commenting on the workshops, VMG President Rich Casey said: “Leading and working in a veterinary business today, especially one seeking to emerge successfully from the COVID-19 lockdown, involves a managing a diverse - and possibly anxious - team and client base, while coping with heightened financial pressures, rising consumer expectations and treatment costs and against the backdrop of a global sustainability emergency and the potential for further lockdowns.
“This ‘new normal’ will put extreme pressure both on veterinary leaders and on other team members responsible for supporting the implementation of change in their practices. To succeed, they will need 21st century leadership skills and the confidence to put them into practice in a post-lockdown world. Our workshops will help them to do this.”
He added: “We’ll focus particularly on the ‘people skills’ required as our experience shows that this is what our colleagues find most challenging. So, for instance, we will demonstrate how to deliver and enable sustainable change by improving communication, increasing motivation and fostering ownership and accountability within a team.
“We are delighted that VDS Training asked us to partner with them on this exciting and very timely initiative and look forward to helping our delegates plot a successful course for their businesses following the unprecedented challenges of the last few months.”
Penny Barker, Training Consultant at VDS Training, said: “We know from conversations in practices, at conferences and our courses that change is a challenge for both leaders and their teams alike. Teams often feel that change is being done to them and that there is little sense of stability. Leaders feel they meet resistance at every turn and struggle to find time to think change projects through properly.
“At VDS Training, we believe that putting people at the heart of change management is the key to successfully leading change in practice - not only delivering the intended business benefits but also ensuring your team stay happy, healthy and engaged. We are excited to be partnering with the VMG to deliver these workshops. Above all, they are for veterinary leaders to come together and start some meaningful conversations about the opportunities we have to have to lead change within our practices and the profession."
The workshops will take place on the dates below:
8th July 2020
23rd September 2020
13th October 2020
To register, visit: https://vetmg.com/shop/
Course fees are £120+VAT for VMG members and £155+VAT for non-members, including a DISC personality profile.
The Veterinary Management Group (VMG) is the UK's leading association for those working in leadership and management roles in the veterinary sector. A not-for-profit organisation, it works to champion the professional and personal development of those in the veterinary profession through CPD, networking, certified management accreditation and the provision of educational resources.
VDS Training offers a range of non-clinical training courses for all veterinary professionals - from nurses, receptionists and practice managers through to experienced practitioners and recently qualified vets. It is committed to helping the veterinary team to thrive in a challenging and changing environment, ultimately helping it to focus on the animals under its care.
For further information:
Rebecca George, George PR
Tel: 01449 737281/07974 161108
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