Practice culture is the clinic vibe, the way you do things in your practice. The attitudes and behaviors of the team. It is a constantly evolving, dynamic entity and it can change (for better or worse) for a whole variety of reasons.
Creating a positive practice culture starts with good leadership. Good leadership is not a fixed hierarchy or dictatorship. Hierarchies can cause big problems if team members feel like they cannot speak up or their opinion is not important. Good leaders should be approachable, instill a sense of team spirit and encourage collaboration. They should encourage individuals to develop whilst celebrating what makes them unique. They should meet each individual’s psychological, physical, and emotional needs, and make sure to recognize everybody fairly.
Did you know that practice culture and patient safety are connected – clinics that are good places to work are also more likely to be safer for our veterinary patients.