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Ask the Financial Expert

How Can I Set Goals for My Already Busy Team?

By Stacey Cordivano, DVM

As an equine veterinarian, I know how easy it is to get caught up working in your practice—but it’s also important to work on your practice. And while scheduled appointments, emergency calls and piles of paperwork are enough to keep any team trotting in circles, taking the time to set goals can keep your path straight and true. So grab a cup of cocoa and another holiday treat (you can always swear them off later), and start thinking about the goals that will set your new year up for success.

BE SMART ABOUT GOALS
When setting goals, knowing where to start can be the hardest part. At my practice we use SMART goals to clearly define our objectives for the year. The SMART framework states that your goals must be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. SMART goals provide clarity for the habits and actions your team must take to reach practice milestones.

Atomic Habits author James Clear said, “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” In other words, focusing on your processes, patterns and habits will help you achieve your long-term goals and aspirations. At Clay Creek Equine, we create specific team goals, like increasing the services each staff member offers at appointments or leveraging technology to manage inventory or minimize missed charges. These goals translate into greater overall productivity and increased employee skill sets.

INCLUDE YOUR TEAM
Involving team members in the goal-setting process is also important and can promote a culture where employees feel more motivated—and more accountable for overall practice productivity. Our practice is small enough that we are able to have weekly check-ins with employees where we can honestly assess progress on individual goals. Larger practices can set aside time for group meetings that allow the team to create and track their goals together. These meetings can also help break down larger goals into more digestible, short-term actions.
Reevaluating your goals periodically may reveal that your practice isn’t on track—that’s OK and even to be expected! Recognize the work your team is doing and adjust where you need to. Keeping an open line of communication and intentionally pivoting shows you understand your staff’s situation and appreciate the effort they put into the practice’s success.

ACHIEVE YOUR IDEAL PRACTICE PICTURE
As practice owners, we need to accept the fact that setting aside time to make goals and manage our team members is worth it. Running a practice may feel like keeping up with a stampede, and it can be difficult to step away from clinical work, but we are responsible for helping our employees craft fulfilling work lives—which will ultimately improve practice productivity as well. Setting goals empowers us to run our practices, and not let them run us!

CareCredit is passionate about empowering equine professionals in their financial, emotional and career growth. Discover resources to help with your job in our Equine Care Resource Center. Plus, veterinary teams can sign up for a new Financial Care Course sponsored by CareCredit, earning 8 hours of RACE-approved CE upon completion.

CLICK HERE FOR COURSE INFORMATION

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