Commentary Already fatigued by the onslaught of AI-enabled communications, inquiries and robocalls, this article appeared to initiate thought beyond the current inconveniences. One would hope AI would eventually create more opportunities but Faisal Hoque shares a different perspective. How our societies and economies will deal with automation may have profound consequences … [Read more...]
3 phrases no one should ever say in a negotiation
Negotiation is a reality for most in their work and personal lives. Lydia Fenet shares phrases that show a lack of experience or maturity during negotiations that will likely kill any potential to achieve a winning result. Source: Fast Company, March 5, 2025. Link. A negotiation is not done until the contract is signed—so make sure to take the initiative to follow up … [Read more...]
89 percent of corporate workers are facing mental health challenges
In a new report from mental-health-benefits provider Lyra Health, 89 percent of 7,500 employees surveyed said they had faced at least one mental health challenge over the past year. Stress and anxiety were their primary issues. Nearly all employees surveyed said they strongly consider mental health benefits when looking for jobs. Source: Fast Company, March 5, 2025. … [Read more...]
Could we be headed to a ‘manager crash’ in 2025?
Commentary Although sometimes suspect as subtle promotions for consulting groups, articles like this and the data they share are worth considering. The pandemic upset the proverbial apple cart and increased the need for excellent juggling skills at all levels of the animal health business, regardless of staff size and sophistication. A declining number of middle managers did … [Read more...]
6 strategies for navigating a multigenerational healthcare workforce
Jacob Kupietzky outlines strategies for leaders to successfully navigate the dynamics of their multigenerational teams so that all employees can thrive. His strategies apply to veterinary teams as they meet challenges and develop opportunities in animal medicine. Source: Fast Company, January 30, 2025. Link. Leaders who proactively address generational differences while … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 30, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 23, 2024. Link. Most read posts from January 23, 2025 AHD Bulletin Managing your stress. Link. Johne’s disease no longer just a dairy disease. Link. 200 weeks and counting . . . the bull run continues. Link. ================================= Wings, turf, pigskin, cheese and more . . . … [Read more...]
Address three root causes of procrastination
Elizabeth Grace Saunders offers ways to move beyond the reasons for procrastination. She shares the importance of practicing starting and starting again with consistent, persistent action to move beyond the tendency to avoid dealing with something that needs to be done. Source: Fast Company, January 16, 2025. Link. The key to overcoming your procrastination is identifying … [Read more...]
How to combat lifestyle creep with a financial fast
The problem with lifestyle creep is that you don’t notice it happening, writes Emily Guy Birken. She shares how a financial fast can get your lifestyle in better alignment with your money goals, asserting that radically changing your financial behavior for a set period of time helps you recognize which money decisions are nothing more than habits and which are important to you. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – December 12, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, December 5, 2024. Link. Most read posts from December 5, 2024 AHD Bulletin Mastering and winning at customer experience. Link. 10 signs a dog is depressed. Link. Face masks reduce human exposure to swine flu. Link. Microbiome-gut-brain axis; its importance in production animal agriculture. Link. … [Read more...]
The cognitive cost of AI
Tara Chklovski’s article discusses the features, functions and benefits of artificial intelligence, identifying its potential, what may change and the mind tax of wrestling with the uncomfortable unknowns. Source: Fast Company, December 8, 2024. Link. Artificial intelligence can help with many types of work, but learning how to mitigate the ‘mind tax’ is important.” … [Read more...]
Reframing mindset, changing habits help manage burnout
Commentary Since the early pandemic almost five years ago, our industry has been facing, defining and discussing burnout, compassion fatigue, overwork and workplace adjustments to ease various burdens and, of course, avoid suicides. Routinely, our AHD team has questioned whether media is informing or perpetuating these topics. Work, by definition, requires us to apply some … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – November 14, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, November 7, 2024. Link. Most read posts from the November 7th AHD Bulletin – Insights into the reasons pet owners surrender their pets to shelters. Link. A fresh perspective on horse expenses. Link. Help livestock and farm customers get funds they deserve. Link. Practices value Promoboxx benefit … [Read more...]
Dealing with a toxic employee as a manager
Sharing a balanced approach to addressing challenging behaviors, Vincent Sanderson advises managers to start by being mindful of how they’re defining toxic behavior. Then engage one-on-one with a focus on understanding rather than dictating. Source: Fast Company, October 8, 2024. Link. One bad apple unfortunately can spoil the lot. But if you focus on the cause of the … [Read more...]
5 red flags that show you don’t understand your Gen Z employees
Gen Z is shaking things up, writes Cheryl Fields Tyler. She shares five signs of ineffective engagement and ways for companies to improve: Not realizing Gen Z is more skeptical of AI than millennials Assuming you can attract them without strong company values Treating DEI as old news and not essential Failing to harness Gen Z’s enthusiasm toward their employers … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 19, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, September 12, 2024. Link. Most read posts from the September 12th AHD Bulletin – Likeability – How to find it in others and develop it in you. Link. Don’t forget. Manure can kill! Link. Use the Two-Minute Rule to stop procrastinating. Link. ===================================== The 5-3-1 Rule is … [Read more...]
Are we really busy enough to hire? (podcast)
Eric Garcia and Andy Roarke, DVM, discuss management adjustments versus the need for hiring in veterinary practices in this podcast. They question if practices are truly understaffed or if the desire to hire is to offset by non-managed inefficiencies. They explore ways to increase operational efficiencies and where technology can improve practice management. Source: Cone of … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 12, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, September 5, 2024. Link. Most read posts from the September 5th AHD Bulletin – A priest, a drunk and a business leader meet and . . . Link. Wildlife decision tree helps clinic staff deal with wildlife properly. Link. New guidance for AMR gram-negative infections. Link. Swine producers, veterinarians … [Read more...]
4 questions to ask to have better meetings
Many of us aren’t always clear on what purpose a meeting serves, writes Lisa DeAngelis, and often find them impediments to getting work done. She shares four questions to ask before planning a meeting or to ask of someone else before accepting a meeting invitation: What is the purpose of the meeting? Who needs to be there and why? Are there constraints that can … [Read more...]
The top 3 skills you need to succeed in an AI-driven world
David C. Edelman and Mark Abraham say we all need to increase our AI readiness in the workplace, fast. They share the top three skills that workers will need to succeed in an AI-driven world and how to develop these skills: Curiosity An understanding of data Unwavering accountability Source: Fast Company, August 14, 2024. Link. Photo by Steve Johnson on … [Read more...]
Five techniques to help negotiate with a bully
Communication is difficult enough without having to deal with a bully, especially when negotiating. Stephanie Vozza shares what the author of “For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation,” suggests for training your brain to approach the conversation calmly and then work through the bully’s position and perspective hoping to deescalate the negative … [Read more...]
Workplace superheroes need to remove their capes at home
Stop . . . look . . . listen! The guidance here may be incriminating for some achievers, but it is a good review of how things can go haywire at home after a busy, successful day. Being decisive, logical and goal- or task-oriented at work can be your superpowers, but at home, they can get in the way of genuine connection with family members who may feel unappreciated or … [Read more...]
How to ask questions that get people to open up
Few people are taught how to ask good questions. Many conversations would go much better if we avoided jumping to conclusions and just took the time to clarify. Question-asking is like any other skill, says author Jeff Wetzler. It takes practice, but the benefits are worth it. Source: Fast Company, May 27, 2024. Link. Quality questions create mutual benefit. You don’t know … [Read more...]
You won’t be ready to change your life until these 5 things are in place
Change is easier said than done. For many, limiting beliefs get in the way. Sustainable change, however, requires more than willpower alone, says Maja Djukic PhD, RN, FAAN. It requires five integral parts of one’s being to move in the same direction simultaneously: motivation, behavior, emotions, mind and body. Dijikic calls this system the “wheel of change.” Source: Fast … [Read more...]
Why we need fewer performance reviews and more check-ins
Leadership expert, author Ashley Goodall, argues that check-ins are a more personal way for teams to set goals. He shares when Cisco researchers looked at the relationship between frequency and effect, they found that a biweekly conversation had a clear, positive effect, and that a weekly conversation had a very big, indeed positive effect. Source: Fast Company, May 6, 2024. … [Read more...]
How to become more confident at work
Confidence is reflected in the way that you talk about yourself, your work and your predictions about whether you will succeed at new tasks. That communication ultimately affects whether other people accept your ideas and choose to engage with you. Art Markman shares a few things you can do to make yourself more confident in the long run including: Know your strengths … [Read more...]
9 Gen Z work trends that aren’t new but hit differently now
We are starting to see old ideas manifest in new ways as the next generations enter the workplace and bring their unique perspectives, writes Leila Frankina. She shares trends and values that are getting revived in the workplace. Of note, yet familiar, are quiet promotion, proximity bias and productivity theater. As they enter the workforce, one in five Gen Zers hold more than … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 11, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 4, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the April 4th AHD Bulletin – Let’s stop calling them soft skills. They’re interpersonal skills. Leadership skills. Link. Finding joy. Link. The role of vehicle movement in swine disease transmission. Link. ===================================== Smells … [Read more...]
9 types of difficult colleagues, how to handle them
It takes extra effort to deal with the dynamics of situations involving difficult people. Sharing nine types of difficult colleagues or clients, Nick Robinson explains simple, direct strategies to deal with them. Among them were these three: The worrier The dark strategist The people pleaser Source: Fast Company, March 20, 2024. Link. “The best way to deal with a … [Read more...]
Thank you notes after an interview? Yes or No?
You don’t need to send a handwritten card, but a thank-you note is likely your final chance to seal your good impression before the hiring manager makes their decision. Source: Fast Company, February 28, 2024. Link. . . . a few brief sentences in an email will do . . . send it within 24 hours . . . “ … [Read more...]
Understanding active listening and distractions
Commentary With all the distractions of checking personal devices, social media and other interruptions it's a wonder any work gets done at all. Consider these articles as you head into meetings and travel to VMX. Active listening involves mastering a host of other skills, writes Amy Gallo. It includes reading body language and tone of voice, maintaining your attention, … [Read more...]