Becoming a good colleague (Part 1)

Even the most skilful surgeon or physician needs a good team to succeed, and as a recent graduate you will certainly want others to help and support you. You only get one opportunity to make a good “first impression” when starting a new job; this article will help you avoid potential pitfalls as you commence your professional career.

How to be accepted by the whole practice team

Whilst we would all like to think that our new colleagues will always accept any new team member into the fold, experience has shown that this cannot be guaranteed. The reasons may be very complex, and will most likely be due to past events at the practice that you will have had no control over, and rather than being directly down to you personally. That said, there are simple steps that you can take which can encourage the process of becoming part of the team.

Seek to earn the respect of your colleagues

Never assume that respect from your colleagues or co-workers is a right, or that it can be assured because of your past achievements or your new role in the practice. You should always set out to “earn” the respect of your colleagues. Remember, your colleagues can only judge you by what you say or what you do, and they will be watching and listening very carefully when you start as they try to form their own opinion of you. It is also worth bearing in mind that “first impressions” are important, because they can be difficult to change once formed.

Show a genuine interest in team members and their roles

Delivering good quality patient and client care requires contributions from all the practice team. Exactly who does what will vary from practice to practice, reflecting the skills, experience and interests of team members. Because of this, the roles and responsibilities associated with job titles can differ quite significantly from one practice to another. Take the time to find out about your new colleagues. What is their background and experience, what role do they have in the practice, what are their special areas of interest? Ask them what you can do to make their job easier, and be sure to listen and act upon the advice given (Figure 1).
 

Question rather than challenge

Every practice will have developed their own way of doing things. These will reflect the values of the clients, the age and experience of the clinical team, relationships with key suppliers and local risks to animal health. Their ways may be quite different from what you have experienced before, or what you were taught in vet school. When you meet something new or unexpected, take care that you are not seen to “challenge” the status quo. It is always best to ask questions so that you can explore and understand the reasons for the actions (Figure 2). It is the difference between “Surely that’s not right!” and “I’ve not done it like this before; what are the advantages of doing it this way?”.

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