No Laughing Allowed! Is Your Management Killing Clinic Joy? The Power of Laughter and Fun in Veterinary Clinics

Have you ever been told to “quiet down the laughter” in your clinic? What about “lighten up on the good vibes and get serious”? Can you be playful, happy, and joyous and still be productive and provide excellent patient care? Well, yeah.

This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss what happens when management kills the joy of working in a veterinary clinic. Whether a clinic’s leadership means to or not, by discouraging playful interactions between coworkers, they may be contributing to burnout, poor productivity, and even suboptimal patient care. No bueno.

Dr. Ward shares some interesting studies of Navy SEALS and the neurobiology of laughter and joy and why “a happy treatment area is a productive one.” Science.

Beckie digs deep into how veterinary ER teams rely on humor to get through stressful times and how keeping things light can benefit your clinic. 

Viewfinders, this is another important topic that isn’t discussed enough in the veterinary profession. How do you find joy and humor in your work? Let us know!