From Toxic to Terrific

Cultivating wellbeing in the veterinary workplace

How many times have you told yourself that mood polluters, toxic attitudes, and negative behaviors are just a “normal” part of veterinary practice?

Do you and your team “walk on eggshells” around certain employees or avoid bringing up concerns for fear of repercussions?

Are you tired of managing co-workers who complain about others, but refuse to deal with the conflict on their own?

Like you, I believed toxic work environments were the norm in our profession.

I struggled to cope with destructive team members and avoided conflict whenever possible. These avoidance behaviors gave me relief in the short-term, but caused me psychological distress and burnout in the long-term.

In the last several years, research has helped us to understand the ramifications of a toxic team environment, which are: communication breakdowns, lack of teamwork, increased symptoms of burnout, and decreased job satisfaction. Given the shortage of veterinary professionals, it is more important now than ever that we prioritize employee wellbeing by nurturing effective teams and resolving workplace toxicity.

I know from experience that healthy veterinary workplaces exist with strong leadership and a commitment to team wellbeing.

A dedication to communicating effectively, resolving conflict, addressing toxic attitudes, promoting mental health, and fostering a culture of wellbeing are all that it takes to create a workplace that you and your team thrive in.

And that is where I come in: I know the struggles you face and have experienced them firsthand. With the knowledge I have gained through ongoing research and my expertise in helping veterinary team leaders, I created a program to help practice leaders and managers resolve toxic teams, reduce turnover, and cultivate wellbeing.

Here’s what previous program attendees had to say about their experience:

I feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to take this program with Dr. Marie! I saw her speak once at a leadership conference and was instantly taken by her kindness, warmth, compassion and intelligence.

— DVM & Medical Director, Ontario
Before this program, I struggled with toxic workplaces and developed unhealthy avoidant behaviours to survive. My favourite aspects of this program were the inspirational quotes and research presented to support the content. I also enjoyed being connected and supported by other veterinary professionals with a similar interest in wellness. This program empowered me with the knowledge of what truly makes a culture great, the importance of wellbeing and not only how to survive but thrive!

— ER DVM, Alberta
This was a great program full of useful information. I loved the breakout sessions during the webinar…it was interesting seeing what others deal with in their practices.

— Anonymous
Marie has put a great deal of thought and effort into this program while using real-life experiences. It is evident that she was passionate about the content and hoping to make a difference on a much larger scale going forward.

— Anonymous
Since taking Dr. Holowaychuk’s program, we have changed our approach to communication within the team. We recognize the differences between team member’s personalities, we have started listening more to nurses and other support staff, and we have shifted the focus away from management and towards leadership. With Dr. Holowaychuk’s suggestions and tools, we have come to realize how important communication between team members is in enhancing awareness and psychological safety at work. This is by far the most important message that we took away from Marie’s program.

— DVM & Practice Owner, Slovakia
Before I took this program I was very anxious before having difficult conversations with colleagues or management. I would lose sleep over workplace interactions. Today I woke up confident and level headed ready for a lunch meeting with our medical director and regional manager. I walked in the room ready to talk and was able to express myself in a calm confident collected manner and with confidence. I was able to listen to others fully without spending the time trying to figure out what I was going to say. I am so glad I took this course. It has eased my fears about handling conflict.

— DVM, British Columbia
With the coaching and learning I received during this program I feel confident in my new role as practice manager and equipped to make my amazing team even better!

— RVT & Practice Manager, British Columbia

When you invest in this program, you get the following:

Weekly motivating and informative emails
Reflection exercises and action plans
Weekly webinars with breakout sessions
Peer-to-peer support
One-on-one coaching
Tangible take-aways and tools
Continuing education (RACE-approved) credit (8.0 hours)

Topics covered during the program include:

Communication and conflict resolution styles
Skills for effective team communication
Strategies and scripts for conflict resolution
Contributors to workplace toxicity
Approaches to resolving workplace toxicity
Workplace stressors and mental health
Psychological safety in the workplace
Plans for fostering workplace wellbeing

Marie Holowaychuk - Waitlist Laptop Image

This program is ideal for leaders within the veterinary team – managers, medical directors, team leads, and more!

Join the waitlist of veterinary team members who want to take this program at its next offering, and you will receive an email when registration opens.

Join the Waitlist

The investment is $697 CAD + taxes (if applicable).

Vet techs / nurses and client care representatives receive 15% off.

If you are struggling within a toxic workplace and want to nurture mental health and team wellbeing, then this new program is for you!

I have no doubt that you will come away with the understanding, practical tools, and doable steps for cultivating a thriving veterinary workplace.