In the future, managers will continue "turning the crank" in many veterinary practices, yet it will be the practices with true leadership and vision that will make a difference in this profession. A leadership trait or characteristic is a quality of personality. In sum, these qualities of personality are of greatest assistance in obtaining confidence, respect, and loyal cooperation by those within a person's sphere of influence. There are a dozen essential leadership traits for those building a veterinary healthcare delivery team:

 Integrity: Consistency and soundness of morale principle, absolute truthfulness and honesty at each turn of a practice day, and the ability to be trusted, in word and action, in practice operations.

 Knowledge: Acquired information put into practical application in quality veterinary healthcare delivery. An understanding of the right thing for the right reason, and at the right time.

 Courage: The mental quality that recognizes fear, usually of danger or criticism, but enables a leader to proceed in the face of adversity, with calmness, predictable values, and firmness.

 Decisiveness: An ability to reach decisions promptly and to announce them in a clear and concise manner. The certainty of the proper performance by the veterinarian's oath and bio-ethical principles.

 Initiative: Seeing what has to be done and commencing a course of action, even in the absence of directions, to ensure an opportunity is not lost to enhance the practice or the welfare of a client or patient.

 Confidence: Conveying the image of self-worth and protecting the self-worth of others. Accepting the blame for others as a personal training shortfall, thereby developing better programs for the future.

 Tact: The ability to deal with others, without creating offense. Enhanced by the quality of being impartial and consistent in exercising the leadership judgment(s).

 Enthusiasm: The display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of practice functions, including the positive aspects of anyone's ideas and the positive potential of even the most adverse of conditions.

 Bearing: Creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearance, and personal conduct at all times, within the practice setting, as well as within the community.

 Judgment: The quality of weighing facts and factors against possible alternatives, in harmony with team members, and establishing a sound basis for decisions, which may impact pon others.

 Loyalty: Faithfulness to the practice values and the veterinary medical profession. Dependable and caring toward the feelings of the others on the team.

 Selflessness: Rejecting the idea of providing for one's own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others. Weighing the needs of self against the needs of the practice, doctors, staff, clients, and patients.

The dozen essential traits are implemented in different manners in different practices, often by exception and more often, as individual actions not integrated into the total practice philosophy. In fact, most practices never establish an integrated program of staff development and leadership expectations. It is most often left to chance. Leadership is an art, as well as a science. Knowing the traits and the ability to list the principles does not make for a great leader. Being able to "speak the words" is still the student's approach. The true leader exhibits the traits in an unconscious manner in each action of each day.

Leadership Principles

When performing within a practice setting, the outward signs of a leader are often seen as practice principles. The attitudes within these principles cause the indicators of leadership discussed above to emerge. There are a dozen principles that reflect the application of the traits of leadership:

1.  Be technically proficient, and train others to be proficient.

2.  Know yourself and seek self-improvement regularly.

3.  Support your staff and look out for their welfare.

4.  Keep the team members informed and striving for improvement.

5.  Be consistent and set the example at all times.

6.  Ensure the task is understood, supervised, and accomplished.

7.  Train the staff members as a competent team.

8.  Make sound and timely decisions in healthcare and staff management.

9.  Develop a sense of responsibility within the team members and recognize their efforts.

10.  Assign projects, outcome taskings, according to the capabilities of the individual.

11.  Seek responsibility and take accountability for outcomes and actions, good, bad, or mediocre. Fully face failures as learning experiences.

12.  Expect excellence, pursue continuous improvement, and celebrate the attempt.

All actions of the practice owners should be guided by the traits and principles of leadership, but that would be utopia. Leadership techniques embrace the traits and apply the principles, but no one can be all things to all people. It is a never-ending struggle to excel and still be consistent in the eyes of the other staff members. The good news is that winning the struggle usually causes increased tenure and practice excellence, unless the person loses the vision and reverts.

The impact of a crashing leadership program is most often seen as a high turnover rate within the staff. A disenchanted staff is not a happy staff, and veterinary practices seldom pay enough for people to stay unhappy and keep coming to work. They will depart the practice. If you plan to embark on a leadership development program in your practice and accept accountability for continuous improvement, also accept the fact that it is a forever process, not a start-and-stop program. Be ready to add the following to your daily habits:

 Be clear in stating the "what", explain the "why", and negotiate the "when".

 Ask leading questions, instead of quickly providing the answer.

 Accept the stress of developing others, while sacrificing self.

 Readily accept blame, while generously giving credit'.

 Do the right things, instead of just doing things right.

A successful practice leader evolves into a community leader, so don't ever believe the quest will be over. Once you have started, the world needs you. Never give up!