Natasha Hinde shares how video meetings change the way we communicate. There’s a lot going on, psychologically, from the moment we click the button to enter an online hangout. She breaks down why it can be such a mental minefield and shares some tips to make it easier. Consider reviewing this information first for yourself and then from your customers’ perspective. Hinde’s … [Read more...]
Archives for May 2020
McKinsey: Beyond contactless operations: Human-centered customer experience
COMMENTARY Before you roll your eyes at the MBA speak or consider this item to be only for big companies, remember that every business serves people. Whether in B2B, B2C or S2S (stakeholder to stakeholder), servicing people and their priorities are common denominators and always have been. While Covid-19 risks have exacerbated customer service optimization efforts, the … [Read more...]
Advice for businesses in the next normal
As pandemic guidance is relaxed, there are considerations for personnel at all levels. Three articles offer guidance as people return to workplaces: Source: The legal dos and don’ts of returning to workplaces, Human Resource Executive, May 7, 2020. Link. Many employers are wading into uncharted legal territory as they aim to keep the workplace and their employees safe, all … [Read more...]
We won the sprint. Now comes the marathon
Using foot races as hyperbole, Erin Greilick, PhD, describes the last pandemic-influenced weeks. Sharing results from a recent survey of industry supervisors, she exposes success and concerns. The longer we maintain a “sprint” like pace, the faster employees will burn out. . . social distancing only further fans the burnout flame. Our best leaders will remember the sprint we … [Read more...]
Lead with compassion
Life, work and school are all suddenly happening – imperfectly – within the same four walls. We are there for each other, but it is virtual. Zoom screens ensure we are not absent, yet cannot make us fully present. Time warps. One moment feels impossible slow and another is head-jangling in its rate of change. Source: LinkedIn Pulse, May 7, 2020. Link. So, what does good … [Read more...]
Malone: Customers buy BENEFITS
This article is pure Malone. For those who cringe at the topic of selling, please remember that if any of your work activities support the generation of an invoice . . . you do sell! I recall courses Patrick led and the challenge of learning to stay out of my own way. The importance of focusing on benefits to get and keep your customer’s attention is critical to today’s … [Read more...]
We are what we say YES to
Benjamin Hardy, PhD, has a new book, Personality Isn't Permanent. In it he seeks to debunk myths about personality that prevent us from learning and provide bold strategies for personal transformation. We follow Hardy’s blog. This excerpt from his book will intrigue you as we face the next normal. Source: Benjaminhardy.com. Link. Every second of every day, you are saying … [Read more...]
CAPC’s Christopher Carpenter, DVM, talks mapping on The Bridge Club
Chris Carpenter, DVM, shared how the Companion Animal Parasite Council is using big data to help track and map parasite incidence. He emphasized the need for practices to report their findings and urged them to accept parasite migration is now multifactorial, specifically citing pet travel. Additionally, he urged practice teams to become more vocal in helping pet owners and … [Read more...]
Wake up your car before heading out for the holiday weekend
Animal health pros’ vehicles may have been idle for weeks. After reviewing articles about getting an idle car ready again we found consensus in this one from Tony and Michele Hamer. You may try to escape sheltering in place over the holiday weekend. Take a few minutes to ensure your vehicle is ready, drive safely and enjoy the start of summer. Source: Liveaboutdotcom, August … [Read more...]
Memorial Day is May 25th
Memorial Day, which honors men and women who died while in military service, is Monday. No matter how you celebrate this weekend, we encourage you to take the time to recognize the importance of the day. Learn more about it and get some great recipes in this article. Source: The Old Farmer’s Almanac, May 19, 2020. Link. In 1971, Memorial Day became a national holiday by an … [Read more...]
Veterinary practice in a pandemic: 6 experiences
Brendan Howard shares a close-up look at how Covid-19 is affecting U.S. clinic finances and operations. The article underscores the diverse nature of veterinary practices, even during ordinary times. Source: VIN News Service, May 1, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: It is good to see Brendan Howard’s byline again. … [Read more...]
What’s next from Veterinary Innovation Podcasts
AHD is collaborating with VIP to inform you of upcoming podcasts about animal health industry innovations and strategies. You can find recent podcasts on the VIP website < link >, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify Podcasts. Here’s a schedule of what’s coming up soon. Source: Veterinary Innovation Podcasts. Link. May 21, 2020. Reducing canine anxiety … [Read more...]
Some of the best advice, boiled down into one-liners
Condensing truths into pithy aphorisms, Jessica Wildfire quips, “Why quote other people, when you can quote yourself?” Three we like are: Emotions are criminals you have to interrogate for the truth. You should have a sense of how you matter to someone besides yourself. Brooding over what you deserve but didn’t get is the most effective and most lethal form of … [Read more...]
FFA: $2 million in 2020 scholarships, 103 sponsors, 1,323 recipients
2020 marks the 36th year for the scholarship program, which began in 1984. Since then, more than $50 million has been awarded in scholarship funds through the National FFA Organization. Congratulations to all the recipients and thank you to supporting sponsors. Source: Rural Marketing News, March 11, 2020. Link. Approximately one in every four students who applied was … [Read more...]
Did you wash that egg?
Backyard chicken numbers continue to climb. Owners cite fresh, tasty eggs as one reason to have their own chickens. Bacteria can be a concern without proper care of the chickens and the eggs. Dianna V. Bourassa, PhD, shares ways to minimize bacteria risks. Source: Chicken Whisperer, Spring 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: This is a resource worth sharing with folks keeping chickens … [Read more...]
Arthritis in senior horses
SPONSORED CONTENT May is National Arthritis Month and horses are no stranger to damaging inflammation the disease causes. While there is no cure, there are ways to keep aging horses more comfortable. With proper diagnosis and treatment, all but the worst cases of arthritis can be managed well enough to preserve soundness” – Susan Kaufman Source: EQUUS Extra, Volume 24. … [Read more...]
Recent trending headlines from BEEF
BEEF offers a quick review of trending headlines from the last three weeks. Topics include: Improving returns on calves Dealing with environmental idiots The value of reproduction rates Proper timing is crucial for calfhood vaccinations Let calves grow or not? Source: BEEF, May 11, 2020. Link. Source: BEEF, April 27, 2020. Link. For a laugh see: … [Read more...]
Rescue dog and trainer amaze football crowd
You will enjoy this video from a 2014 halftime performance. Source: Samantha Valle and her amazing dogs, I love dogs. Link. INSIGHTS: How many of you could toss a Frisbee that consistently? … [Read more...]
Canine glaucoma is painful
Glaucoma is a painful disease. The pain can be expressed as blepharospasm (abnormal contraction of the eyelid muscles) or as general depression. Many owners report a dramatic improvement in the dog’s behavior after removal of a glaucomatous eye. Glaucoma may be classified in one of two ways, writes Ron Ofri, DVM, PhD, DECVO. The classifications have significant clinical … [Read more...]
Too much drool could signal a problem
Excessive salivation can be caused by happiness, hyperthermia or household cleaning products. Check these additional differentials for ptyalism and pseudoptyalism from Julie Allen, BVMS, MS, MRCVS, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVP. Source: Clinician’s Brief, April 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Discerning normal or not with canine stomach noises
Eric Barchas, DVM, weighs in on borborygmi <link>, the sounds that come from dogs’ gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Often simply called stomach growling or stomach rumbling, these sounds can come from either the stomach or the small or large intestine. These gurgling sounds are produced when gas moves from one portion of the intestines to another. Source: Dogster, February … [Read more...]
Coach pet owners about natural diets
Linsey Getz says pet owners require more guidance with natural diets than regular diets. Terminology and ingredients are important factors that increase understanding. Source: Pet Product News, May 2020. Link INSIGHTS: We’ve included this information to add perspective to the ongoing dialogue about pet food diets. Pet food diet choices continue to reflect owners’ focus on … [Read more...]
Dog beds are improving
An aging dog population and the increased focus on pet comfort by younger dog owners has dog bed manufacturers combining science and style to meet owner and pet needs. Source: Pet Product News, May 2020. Link. Manufacturers and retailers named a number of functional qualities that owners want from their dog beds, such as comfort, durability, safety, and ease of cleaning. … [Read more...]
The big business of pets is getting bigger
More than three quarters of Americans spend $75 billion annually on their pets. Pet food sales along are up six percent compared to last year. Pet ownership is most common among millennials and Gen X, with 59 percent of households owning at least one dog. However, millennials are more likely to own multiple dogs and Gen X is most likely to own multiple cats, at 42 percent of … [Read more...]
Pandemic realities forcing some pets back to shelters
Pet shelters and rescue organizations experienced rapid increases in adoptions and fosters since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Now, some shelters are preparing for a large influx of pets as the realities of owners’ jobs and home losses hit hard. It hasn’t happened yet, but Brenda Barnette, general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services, expects more pets will … [Read more...]
If your life was a movie
Ever feel like you’re stuck when you need to make a decision and don’t know what to do? Unfortunately, our emotions often cloud our thinking when faced with the pressure of making a big decision. Source: Purpose Unlimited. Link. To make wise choices and avoid acting on impulse we need to engage in a logical thought process. If your life was a movie how would you write the … [Read more...]
How HR is writing the book on coronavirus
One of the most fascinating things about the pandemic and its global impact is that there is no book written about this situation” – Jason Averbook Averbook discusses three normal personnel processes and explores how they’re changing: Onboarding Performance Governance SOURCE: Human Resource Executive, May 8, 2020. Link. It’s scary when there’s no book. But, at … [Read more...]
Pandemic may be turning point for workplace mental health
Experts say mental health issues and stress were already on the rise among employees before the coronavirus pandemic, and they certainly won’t just disappear post-pandemic. The disaster finds more employees struggling and employers playing catch-up in the rush to help. Source: Human Resource Executive, May 11, 2020. Link. “The pandemic has forced us to make changes and to … [Read more...]
Don’t should on yourself (includes podcast)
Uncertainty rules this pandemic period, but the feeling of uncertainty is not unprecedented. People live through all kinds of scary things all the time. Sarah McCammon shares seven tips for dealing with uncertainty she learned from people who've been there. Source: NPR, May 4, 2020. Link Don't fast-forward and run the tape of doom and get sucked into that hole. Don't try to … [Read more...]
Guidance for expanding veterinary care during the pandemic
Ontario inadvertently became a laboratory for implementing telemedicine and adjusted VCPR practices during the pandemic < link >. Scott Weese, DVM, shares the Guide to reopening veterinary medicine in Ontario, as a resource for veterinary teams as they prepare to provide more veterinary services while still minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. We’re going to … [Read more...]