The Benefits of Showing Up for Yourself and Employees Inside Your Clinic
Prioritizing self-care and employee well-being leads to a healthier workplace and better patient care
Prioritizing self-care and creating a supportive work environment can have a significant impact on the success of your clinic and the well-being of your team.
Thrive Global sums up showing up for yourself by stating, “By now you’ve probably heard the term ‘showing up for yourself.’ It’s becoming increasingly trendy as a way to practice self-care — and for a good reason. With work-related stress at an all-time high, it’s important that each of us learn to be our own advocate to thrive in our world of near-constant connectivity.”
Showing up for yourself and your employees is critical to a successful vet clinic. Employees are looking for a workplace that values their mental and emotional health, especially in a field that takes such an emotional toll on vets and technicians.
This blog highlights how you can show up for yourself and your employees and outlines the benefits of doing so inside your clinic.
Showing up for yourself and employees
According to Minimalism Made Simple, “Showing up for yourself can feel intimidating or overwhelming at first because there are so many different things you can do on your own time that might help improve your mental health.” This section will discuss ways to show up for yourself and your employees inside your vet clinic.
Practice positive self-talk and thoughts
Vets and vet techs are often under extreme stress and scrutiny but still manage to speak to clients with the utmost care and concern, regardless of what’s happening around them. Talking to yourself and your employees the same way you speak to clients will lead to a more positive mindset and attitude.
Providing yourself with positive affirmations during more challenging days is a simple yet effective way to show up for yourself. Tell yourself simple things such as, “It’s a hard day, but I will get through it,” or “I am doing the best I can in this given situation.”
Constructive thoughts will help you and your employees perform to the best of your ability inside the clinic.
Practice self-compassion
Practicing self-compassion goes hand in hand with practicing positive self-talk and thoughts. Giving yourself grace with your job, especially on the hard days, is crucial for showing up for yourself.
When mistakes happen inside the workplace, people have difficulty being kind and understanding toward themselves. Showing yourself compassion regarding mistakes or negative experiences will help you productively move forward.
Showing compassion and understanding towards employees and coworkers will directly affect their view of your clinic. With an already stress-inducing job, vets and techs want a workplace that will support them and encourage them during difficult times.
Set firm boundaries
Acknowledging and setting boundaries from the beginning of a job is a massive aspect of your mental and emotional self-care. People often have a hard time saying no to tasks and favors when asked, even if they are spread too thin for their well-being.
Establishing and sticking to boundaries will help your mental and emotional health, keep you from burning out in your career, and empower you to provide the best care possible for your patients.
Listening and respecting the boundaries your employees and coworkers have set will ensure your practice functions to the best of its ability. Your employees set these boundaries to let you know what they can handle without compromising care.
Take time for yourself
This task seems like a no-brainer, but it is one of the most challenging aspects of self-care for hardworking individuals. People feel guilty taking time for themselves and putting themselves ahead of their jobs or tasks.
But taking time for yourself is necessary. This time doesn’t have to be something extravagant like a vacation (but we suggest you still take that trip to the beach). It can be a simple daily task that allows you to take a step back, breathe, reflect, and recharge.
Offering breaks outdoors or away from the job inside your clinic will improve employees’ mental health and performance. They will value having a job that cares for their well-being.
Get comfortable with vulnerability
This might be the most critical step in showing up for yourself. Being vulnerable about where you are mentally, emotionally, and physically with yourself and your team will ensure you aren’t pushed to a breaking point.
Doing check-ins with your employees can shift the entire culture of your clinic in a positive and healthy direction. If you know a specific person or team has had a tough day, or they have just seemed off, check in with them.
Benefits of showing up for yourself and employees
Engage For Success states,“Standing up for yourself can be hard, no matter who you are. Executive-level employees can often feel pressured to take on too much and may feel burnt out. All workers can be susceptible to feelings of hesitancy when it comes to reporting unsafe working conditions or other disturbing situations. However, speaking up, even in uncertainty, can bring more than just peace of mind. Speaking up can help keep you engaged with your current job.” This section outlines the benefits your clinic will see from showing up and supporting your employees and coworkers.
Better employee engagement
When employees feel supported and heard, they are more likely to perform to the best of their abilities to show appreciation to your organization. This engagement will positively impact all aspects of your clinic. Every part of your organization will notice the level of engagement coming from your team.
A thriving company culture
When employees feel supported and engaged with their job and coworkers, the environment around them will thrive.
According to BetterUp, “When employees feel connected they see a 92% increase in professional growth, a 59% increase in more positive relationships, and a boost in well-being and goal attainment. It makes for an overall better work environment that helps employees get one step closer to reaching their full potential.”
Better work-life balance
When a company understands that employees have lives outside of work and are willing to support employees in maintaining a healthy work-life balance, the organization will benefit as a whole.
When work-life balance is at the forefront of your clinic’s mind, your clinic will see an increase in productivity, reduced turnover, and improved employee mental health. These aspects make your clinic run as successfully as possible.
Recruiting and Retaining Employees
Recruiting and retaining clinicians and staff is a critical part of running a successful clinic and creating a high-performing workplace that provides the best care possible for your clients. Having your clinic show up for employees will create an environment that will attract talent to your clinic and entice them to stay long term.
