People, Relationships, and Results - Keeping The Right Focus

Great leaders see more than results as their goal. Indeed, good animal health and welfare outcomes are the results we seek. Achieving these desired outcomes requires that team members work together. High-performing teams prioritize the development of trusting relationships as their foundation.

As a leader, your presence during a crisis makes a difference. A leader’s primary purpose is not to direct or judge their teams’ actions during a crisis. Instead, the leader’s role is to be present and care for the people’s needs. They can provide a calm, steady hand. Their presence shows that the team is not alone in these high-pressure situations. Even if you can’t be present on site, find substantive ways to support and care for your teams.

The principle is as important in daily work as it is during a crisis. We need to prove to our teams that their well-being is a higher priority than the situation at hand. Remember, circumstances are temporary, but relationships carry us through the long haul. The best leaders know this and grow stronger when they see others succeed in their daily work.

Slow down and be ready to serve. When I started as a veterinarian, I was always in a rush trying to complete the list of things I needed to do. I was productive, but only in a selfish way. I was too busy to see the needs of others around me. Slowing down helped me be available for others and their needs.