Workplace Culture Episodes

You have a great culture. Your team would back that up. So why is it sooooo! hard to find vets and nurses who want to work there?
The answer probably isn't your job ad. It's everything that didn't happen before your job ad ran.

In this fifth episode of What Job Ads Were Never Built To Do, Julie South unpacks the hidden cost of episodic recruitment — the off/on/off, stop/start/stop cycle that most vet clinics have normalised without ever questioning.

The ad goes up.

The ad comes down.

The cli...

"Julie - That’s not how we do things around here.” It’s one of the most honest responses Julie South hears from clinics when new ideas are introduced. In this final episode of the Where Vet Clinics Get Stuck with Their Recruitment series, she looks at why this particular response is different from the others. Because it’s not about time. Or budget. Or platform. It’s about identity. Knowing who you are as a clinic — how you operate, what you stand for — is a strength. It’s the foundation of a ...

Dr Anna knew nothing about New Zealand before leaving Dublin, Ireland. Just that the weather would be terrible - like at home.
A year later, she's thinking about residency.

This is the final episode in the VetsOne Employer of Choice series. You'll hear what the first year as a new graduate actually looks like—from someone who arrived knowing nobody and nothing about where she'd be living.

What you'll hear:
Seven weeks of structured induction as a brand new grad.

Why extended euthanasia appoin...

"You're not hiring staff. You're trying to bring back awareness from the dead", that's the point Julie South makes today. Most vet clinics think they have two options: advertise when hiring, or do nothing when fully staffed. But that "doing nothing" phase is costing you more than you realise — and it's not just the job board fees you see on invoices. When you go dark between hires, four things are quietly draining your budget. Most clinics never add these up. When they do, the number is...

Dr. Jane Jones, a pioneering voice in veterinary narratives, invites us into her world as she navigates the complexities of qualitative research in veterinary science.

With a unique focus on the experiences of Māori veterinarians and vet nurses in Aotearoa, New Zealand, Dr Jane's research journey unveils the challenges and rewards of exploring a field with sparse literature.

Her collaboration with Associate Professor Dr Francesca Brown and her dedication to learning Te Reo Māori highlight not ...

Is your clinic still struggling with the post-pandemic workforce transformation?

Discover how to turn these challenges into opportunities by understanding the concept of psychological safety and its profound impact on new hires and annual performance reviews.

Join Julie South, Certified DISC Trainer and Resilience Coach, as she introduces the juniority benefit, the swoosh pattern of psychological safety levels over time, and the peak-end rule cognitive bias.

This episode is packed with insigh...

Join Julie South, a Certified DISC Trainer and Resilience Coach, as she delves into the art of reaching consensus within teams.

Julie emphasises the importance of creating a safe space for open conversations, setting clear objectives, and encouraging diverse perspectives to ensure everyone feels heard and valued.

She provides practical strategies and best practice questions to help teams navigate through reaching consensus effectively.

By focusing on assumptions rather than beliefs, Julie gui...

Have you ever wondered how to unlock the full potential of your veterinary team?

Join DISC Certified Trainer and Resilience Coach Julie South as she unravels some of the secrets to boosting employee engagement in the veterinary industry.

Julie shares practical strategies and expert insights that can transform your clinic's culture and performance.

Three key takeaways from this episode include:
Discover the impact of employee engagement on clinic profitability and customer satisfaction.

Learn...

Julie South, Certified DISC Trainer and Resilience Coach, delves into the crucial topic of employee engagement. Discover how understanding and addressing your team's needs can transform your clinic's culture, boost productivity, and drive overall success.
Julie shares practical strategies and actionable steps to cultivate a motivated, satisfied, and high-performing workforce. Discover how to implement effective communication, provide growth opportunities, and create clear career progression path...

In this insightful episode of the Vet Staff Podcast, host Julie South tackles the important topic of psychological safety and its impact on team dynamics, collaboration, and overall veterinary clinic performance.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to build a more trusting, connected, and high-performing work environment.

Psychological safety is the foundation for successful teams. It's about creating an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, admitting mist...

Ever wondered what the true cost of staff turnover is in veterinary clinics and how you can build a more resilient and engaged team?

Join us as we uncover the financial and emotional toll of staff turnover that often goes unnoticed, from productivity gaps to the stress on remaining team members.

We break down some of these hidden costs and their implications on both the clinic's bottom line and team morale.

Through strong interpersonal relationships and effective leadership, we share actionab...

Have you ever felt knocked off balance by a difficult life event or emotional outburst? What if, instead of being victims of these occasional triggers, we could develop the skills to harness them as teachers on our path to growth?
In the latest episode of the Vet Staff Podcast, host Julie South examines this compelling concept of transforming our triggers to build emotional resilience. With an influx of calls from veterinarians blaming external factors for their struggles, she spotlights the cri...

Ever dreamed of transforming your workplace into a harmonious, productive haven?

Are you eager to understand why you or your colleagues behave the way you do?

Get ready as Julie South, Tania Bruce and Extended DISC Certified Practitioner, Lucy Smith chat about how understanding different behavioural styles can (literally!) revolutionise your work environment and boost performance.

Imagine a workplace where communication is seamless, stress is well managed, and everyone is in their perfect wor...

Ever feel the weight of bitterness holding you back? Today, we're going to unburden ourselves by embracing the liberating power of forgiveness, even in the face of deep hurt when it feels impossible to forgive. We'll be exploring the transformative ability of empathy to bridge the gap between hurt and healing. We'll share seven potent techniques to help you understand and share the feelings of those who've wronged you, starting with recognising your own emotions and seeking understandin...

Are you ready to journey into the depths of collective (group) forgiveness?

Today we look at historical wounds and explore the healing power of forgiveness, be it for historical atrocities like the Holocaust, colonialism, and slavery, or the smaller yet impactful world of business reputations tarnished by a few.

We consider examples from Rwanda and Northern Ireland, shedding light on indigenous forgiveness initiatives that are paving the road to healing around the globe. Simultaneously, we con...

Ever wondered how forgiveness can apply when there's the moral dilemma of and justice colouring the picture in the high stakes the veterinary profession? Join me, Julie South, as we navigate this minefield of dilemmas. We look at the the importance of being 'fit and proper' test. From medical malpractice to heart-wrenching end-of-life decisions, we'll grapple with the tough questions of accountability and forgiveness in this high-stakes profession. We also look at the power o...

What if the culture within your veterinary clinic could be transformed by one simple concept - forgiveness?

This is the second of a 2-part talking about forgiveness as a vet clinic culture, and the sixth episode on the "forgiveness" series.

Picture a workplace where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth and team members are encouraged to learn from errors rather than fear them.

This episode of our podcast is all about cultivating just such an atmosphere using the Vet Clinic Forgivenes...

What if the key to a harmonious and productive veterinary clinic lies in the simple act of forgiveness?

Join me, Julie South, as we embark on a journey to understand how forgiveness plays an integral role in managing a successful clinic.

We look at forgiveness and its significance in resolving interpersonal conflicts, coping with client complaints, dealing with staffing issues, and navigating ethical concerns.

The first step towards a more cooperative and respectful work environment begins wi...

Ever wondered why more than 40% of workers without a mentor have considered leaving their job in the last three months, compared to just 25% of those who do have a mentor? Curious about how a well-structured mentoring program can demonstrate your commitment to your team's growth, leading to higher levels of engagement and loyalty? Tune in! We're embarking on a journey to unravel the hidden power of mentoring in veterinary clinics. We break down how mentoring, a timeless practice from ancient civ...

Are your recruitment efforts falling short? What if you could transform your clinic's recruitment strategy by focusing on the right values that resonate with job seekers? In this episode, we uncover the untapped potential of talking about employer values such as workforce development, well-being, empowerment, collaboration, and innovation in your job advertisements, and discuss the values job seekers crave like growth and development, work-life balance, autonomy and empowerment, collaboration...

Ready to revolutionise your vet clinic's recruitment process and say goodbye to low engagement, high turnover, and skyrocketing costs? Discover the secret to transforming your employer brand and boosting your clinic's success as we dive into the importance of values alignment, transparency, and a values-driven culture in ep 139 - The Power of Values. Join us on this enlightening journey as we follow the experiences of Dr. Chris, a talented veterinarian seeking a new opportunity, and learn ...

Are you an employer looking for ways to enhance the quality of life for yourself and your team in the workplace?

Do you often find your team feeling overwhelmed and out of control?

As a team leader, do you struggle to provide the right support during difficult times?

While the saying "focus on what you can control" can seem trite and unhelpful, it's critical for the well-being of your team.

Today is all about practical strategies to help you and your team regain balance and empowerment in yo...

Want to improve job satisfaction and attract high-performing employees?

You need to prioritise Quality of Life in your Workplace.

This Culture-Positive concept is gaining popularity.

But what is it exactly and how does it benefit both employees and employers?

Stay tuned as we explore the benefits of Quality of Life in your Workplace, how it can be your clinic’s recruitment superpower and how it can enhance your professional life.

We look at the original six Quality of Life in the Workplace ...

Are you a veterinary clinic owner, HR, or Practice Manager struggling to recruit and retain top performers?
Or maybe you're a veterinary professional on the hunt for your next career move?
Either way, this episode is for you!

We're diving into Vet Clinic Employer Branding, the power of employee testimonials to showcase the best clinics in town and how they can help you find the good employers.

As a veterinary clinic owner, attracting more, and retaining the top performers you’ve already got, i...