The Veterinary Leadership Success Show

A few weeks ago, I sat down with Dr Andy Roark and he dropped a line that lit up the internet:“You, my friend, are a dick.”His point was simple and uncomfortable. In veterinary medicine, one of the biggest career killers is being someone others simply do not want to work with. You might be clinically excellent. You might work hard. But if you consistently damage relationships, you quietly lose opportunities, influence and growth.The feedback to that episode was fascinating. Many of you agreed. Many pushed back, sharing stories of abrasive leaders who still climbed the ladder.So this week, I unpack it properly.I break leadership down into a series of “Big D” styles - Direct, Ditherer, Dreamer and Democrat - and explore how each one shapes the way we make decisions. We look at when directive leadership works and when it corrodes culture, why indecision is often a clarity problem, how conflict avoidance erodes trust, and why collaboration without ownership stalls progress.Underpinning it all is one core truth: leadership is decision-making.And great leaders are not defined by personality. They are defined by flexibility.So grab a coffee and join me for a practical conversation about leadership agility, self-awareness and choosing the right mode for the moment.Episode Outline:[00:00] Big D leaders in vet med[02:03] Is being a dick really a career killer?[03:14] The Direct leader – results vs relationships[05:40] The Ditherer – clarity before action[07:41] Dreamers – vision vs avoidance[11:28] The Democrat – collaboration and responsibility[15:52] Why data sharpens decisions[17:11] Leadership is about flexibilityBecome the Leader Your Team DeservesIf you want to sharpen your decision-making, build clarity around what good looks like, and develop the flexibility your team needs from you. Book a call with us at the Veterinary Leadership Academy.We’ll help you identify where you’re strong, where you’re stuck, and what to do next.Follow Dr. Dave Nicol for More Leadership Insights:Follow Dr. Dave: @drdavenicolLearn more about the Veterinary Leadership AcademyEnjoyed this episode?Leave a review on iTunes and share it with your veterinary colleagues!

In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, I’m responding to the reaction.Specifically, the wave of comments that followed a recent episode and social posts about a new graduate’s early experience in practice.If you saw the Instagram reel or Facebook video, you’ll know the conversation struck a nerve.Some comments were thoughtful and supportive. Others were angry, frustrated, and aimed squarely at “weak graduates”, falling standards, and a profession that feels like it’s under siege.Today, I want to slow that conversation down.Rather than adding to the noise, this episode looks beneath it, at the fatigue, the stretched systems, and the pressure that’s been building across the profession for a long time.We talk about grit, resilience, mentorship, and why toughness isn’t something people arrive with on day one. It’s something that gets built, or broken, by the environments we place them into.If you’re worried about standards, frustrated by how hard ownership has become, or quietly wondering whether the profession you love is changing in ways you don’t recognize, this is a conversation worth sitting with.Referenced Posts:Instagram reel:https://www.instagram.com/p/DTvXiAlCSZX/Facebook video:https://www.facebook.com/reel/1397139445528655Episode Outline:[00:00] – Why this conversation exploded[02:45] – Are graduates really the problem?[05:30] – The myth of “grit” at graduation[08:40] – Why our early careers weren’t the same[11:30] – When hard work turns into attrition[14:15] – Mentorship as leadership, not therapy[16:45] – The damage caused by sink or swim[18:30] – What high standards actually look like[20:00] – The responsibility owners still hold[21:45] – Building resilience the right wayFollow Dr. Dave Nicol for More Leadership Insights:Instagram: @drdavenicolLearn more about leadership training: Veterinary Leadership AcademyEnjoyed this episode?If this episode made you pause or reflect, I’d really appreciate you leaving a review on iTunes and sharing it with someone else in the profession. These conversations matter – and how we handle them shapes what comes next.Be safe. Be well. And take care of each other.

The first year in practice should not decide whether someone stays in veterinary medicine. But too often, it does.In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Hope Darnell, a recent graduate who shares a clear-eyed account of what her first year in practice was really like.Hope stepped into her first role with the things good graduates bring - commitment, curiosity, and a genuine desire to do the job well. On paper, the support was there. Experienced vets. A capable team. Reassurance that help was available.Then reality hit.Within weeks, Hope was carrying a heavy clinical load, managing complex cases and new clients back to back, and covering the practice alone far earlier than she should have been. Emergencies, surgery, on-call work, and quietly absorbing management tasks as gaps appeared. All on top of a full caseload.Without bad intent, guiding turned into grinding.This story is not unusual. Practices are stretched. Mentorship is inconsistent. Time is scarce. Many teams want to do the right thing, but lack the structure or capacity to truly support early-career vets.What matters is this. Despite everything, Hope chose to stay.She stayed because she still believes in the work, the profession, and the possibility that we can do better. That belief places responsibility on those of us in leadership to build environments where graduates can grow safely, not burn out quietly.If we get this right, we don’t just protect graduates – we strengthen our practices and safeguard the future of veterinary medicine.This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation and forms the foundation of a session I’ll be delivering at VMX 2026, Guiding, Not Grinding. In Part 2, we move into practical solutions for supporting graduates, and the future of veterinary medicine, more effectively.Episode Outline:[00:02] – Meet Dr. Hope[05:00] – Picking a first job[09:00] – Support that looked solid[12:00] – Trying to practise good medicine[14:00] – Taking on more and more[18:30] – Being left on your own[20:00] – The day it all collided[24:00] – Still working, but not coping[26:00] – When numbness sets in[31:00] – What new grads really need[35:00] – The “unicorn vet” problem[39:00] – Is your practice ready for a graduate?[43:00] – Why mentorship matters[45:00] – Why Dr Hope stayed in vet medicineFollow Dr Dave Nicol:Instagram: @drdavenicolLearn more about leadership support and training: Veterinary Leadership AcademyConnect with Dr Hope Darnelle:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hope-darnell-dvm-b53054214/Enjoyed the episode?Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. These conversations matter, and sharing them helps move our profession forward.

Most leaders want change to be quick and clean. A few tweaks. A new policy. A better week.But meaningful change – the kind that transforms culture, steadies the ship, and creates a practice you actually love leading – follows a very different rhythm.In this episode, Oli and I dig into the truth about change. Why overwhelm is a diagnostic, not a character flaw. Why burnout often signals a system problem rather than a personal one. And why rebuilding culture is more like farming than fighting.We explore the emotional, financial and cultural yields your practice should produce, how to diagnose what’s really driving your stress, and why the first brave step is often removing the wrong person, not adding a new one.You will learn practical ways to create immediate relief, the long term strategy for sustainable transformation, and why community support acts as a stabilising wall while you do the real work of leadership.Change is not instant. But there is a path. And when you follow it with intention, the remarkable vet practice you build will give back far more than it takes.Episode Outline:[01:05] – Why change hurts more than it should[03:45] – Burnout isn’t personal, it’s systemic[06:37] – Culture is the soil everything grows in[08:14] – Who should stay on your team – and who shouldn’t[10:28] – Rebuilding from the core, not the surface[12:03] – Why resistance shows up when standards rise[14:49] – Why meaningful change takes a season[16:20] – Finding relief before real change begins[19:28] – Skills can be replaced, attitudes can’t[21:47] – When work becomes an emotional drain[23:04] – Someone has to own the culture[23:46] – Why community stabilises leaders[24:34] – The clearest path forwardResources & Links MentionedNeed clarity on what needs to change? Book a diagnostic call with Oliver at the Veterinary Leadership Academy and let us walk you through your next steps.Download the Leadership Actions Study – practical steps to help you lead with clarity today.https://calendly.com/oliver-vetx/grow-your-vet-practice-1-1-discovery-callExplore our leadership courses – build the skills to create a culture your team loves being part of.Follow Dr Dave Nicol for daily leadership insights and practical tools for running a thriving veterinary practice.Enjoyed this episode?Leave us a review on iTunes and share it with your colleagues in vet med. 

Most practice owners think they have a vision. A sentence written years ago. A vague idea. A gut feeling. But a real vision, one that energises your team and shapes culture, is something very different.In this episode, Oliver and I break down the most common mistakes owners make when creating their vision – why many end up with fluffy statements that change nothing, why some practices have no vision at all, and why the work isn’t finished once the document is written and alive.We explore how to structure a vision that actually works, how purpose, mission, and values fit together, and the simple tests that tell you whether yours is fit for purpose. You’ll learn why authenticity matters more than polish and how a living, breathing vision becomes rocket fuel for recruitment, retention, culture, and long term sustainability.The medicine gets you started. The vision takes you somewhere worth going. Remarkable practices are built by leaders who choose the path with purpose. Episode Outline:[00:00] – Why vision matters[01:07] – The danger of having no vision[02:14] – Vision as your X factor[06:49] – When structure goes wrong[07:51] – Why “vision, mission, values” fall short[09:46] – The purpose–mission–values model[11:54] – Vision is only useful if you use it[13:19] – The cost of abdication[15:32] – Why vets avoid vision work[18:00] – People, culture and sustainability[20:40] – The goosebumps and butterflies test[22:23] – Writing the unfiltered truth[23:52] – Turning vision into leadership fuelResources & Links MentionedNeed help with your vision? Book a chat with Oliver at the Veterinary Leadership Academy and we’ll help you assess where you are and where you’re going.Download the Leadership Actions Study – practical steps to help you lead with clarity today.Explore our leadership courses – build the skills to create a culture your team loves being part of.Follow Dr Dave Nicol for daily leadership insights and practical tools for running a thriving veterinary practice.Enjoyed this episode?Leave us a review on iTunes and share it with your colleagues in vet med. Great leadership, like great culture, grows when it’s shared.

Why do veterinarians keep burning out?In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, I’m unpacking why so many great people in our profession are burning out, and what we can learn from elite athletes about how to fix it.Because in sport, training hard every day is a fast track to injury. Yet in vet med, we do exactly that - long hours, relentless pressure, and no real recovery. Then we wonder why everyone’s limping.I’ll walk you through how to think like a coach - setting the right dose of work, building rest into the plan, and checking in before things start to snap. We’ll talk about how to balance intensity with recovery and why emotional fuel is every bit as important as physical energy.Episode Outline:00:00 – Performance or wellbeing? (You can have both.)01:00 – Lessons from the track: what sport can teach vet med03:00 – Running slow to go fast06:00 – The four factors of performance: volume, intensity, rest, and fuel10:00 – When teams “train” too hard and start to break13:00 – Building resilience, not fatigue16:00 – Check in before they burn out18:00 – Fuel, rest, and emotional recovery20:00 – Your leadership training plan for a healthier teamWant more leadership tools in your corner?Follow me: @drdavenicolCheck out: Veterinary Leadership AcademyRun your eNPS: drdavenicol.com/get-your-enpsIf this episode hit home, leave a review or share it with a teammate.

What do you do when most of your team walks out? Pour a stiff drink? Hide under the desk? In this week’s Veterinary Leadership Success Show, I’m joined by Dr. Molly Husman, owner of Brinker Veterinary Hospital up in Lake Orion, Michigan, and a woman who has lived through the leadership nightmare most of us secretly dread.Within a year of buying her clinic, she made the brave decision to let someone go. It didn’t go down well. In fact, it set off a chain reaction that left her with just a handful of staff and a whole lot of self-doubt.But here’s where the story gets good. Molly didn’t crumble - she rebuilt. Brick by brick, hire by hire, dad joke by dad joke (you’ll see what I mean). She rediscovered her purpose, learned to trust again, and built a team that actually wants to be there. Today, she’s running a low-volume, high-touch, heart-led practice that’s about to move into a new purpose-built home.We talk about the fear of letting go, the power of trust, and why sometimes the most painful decisions turn out to be the best thing that could’ve happened to you.Grab your headphones, pour something strong, and settle in - this one’s a masterclass in courage, clarity, and leadership with heart.Episode Outline[00:03] – When your whole team walks out[03:20] – Buying a clinic with someone else’s culture[05:16] – The firing that changed everything[06:07] – “Stay in joy or go in peace”[08:20] – Rebuilding from scratch[09:42] – Turning fear into freedom[13:11] – What trust really looks like in a vet clinic[14:24] – Looking at your clinic differently[16:39] – Learning to step back and actually lead[18:34] – Realizing you might be the problem[20:25] – Hiring slow, building fast[22:12] – One interview question that changed everything[23:51] – Trust as the heartbeat of culture[25:18] – Building a practice that fits youConnect with Dr. Molly HusmanBrinker Veterinary HospitalConnect with Dr. Molly on LinkedinFollow Dr. Dave Nicol for More Leadership InsightsFollow: @drdavenicolLearn more about Veterinary Leadership Training: Veterinary Leadership AcademyEnjoyed this episode?Leave a review on iTunes and share it with your colleagues in vet med.

Hiring is one of the hardest jobs in veterinary leadership right now. Everyone’s fishing in the same tiny pond, and most practices look and sound exactly the same. In this episode, I break down why veterinary recruitment feels like such a nightmare, and more importantly, what you can do to fix it. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about throwing more money at the problem.We’ll dig into what employer branding really means, how to stop writing job ads full of buzzword bingo, and why a clear vision, purpose and set of lived values will do more for your hiring than any signing bonus. I’ll also give you a simple equation to score your employer brand, so you can see exactly where you’re strong, and where you’ve got work to do.If you’re blaming “the market” for your hiring woes, this one’s going to challenge you. Because the truth is, there are practices out there with people lining up to join them. The difference? They’ve learned how to tell their story. And you can too.Your story could be the key to better hires. Join our upcoming webinar and find out how, save your seat now.Episode Outline:[00:01] – Why hiring’s tough[03:00] – Standing out[07:01] – Employer brand 101[10:17] – Vision vs buzzwords[11:05] – Purpose, mission, values[16:21] – The brand equation[19:46] – Telling your story[22:26] – Employee experience first[25:08] – Don’t blame the market[27:33] – Be unapologetically you[29:11] – Webinar preview[30:01] – Free NPS surveyResources & Links Mentioned:Register for our Employer Branding WebinarJoin our free Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey studyDownload our leadership brochuresFollow Dr. Dave Nicol for More Leadership Insights:Follow Dr. Dave: @drdavenicolLearn more about the Veterinary Leadership AcademyEnjoyed this episode?Leave a review on iTunes and share it with your veterinary colleagues!

In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, I’m joined by my copilot, Oliver Loveday, Head of Community here at the Veterinary Leadership Academy. We’re digging into one of the most overlooked but absolutely critical parts of running a successful veterinary practice: your vision.And I don’t mean some fluffy slogan you stick on a wall and then ignore. I’m talking about the hard graft of clarifying your purpose, your mission, and your values, the foundation stone that makes everything else work and align. Without it, you’re building on sand. With it, you’ve got a north star to guide the biggest decisions you’ll ever make: who you hire, how you shape your culture, the way you connect with clients, and even how you hold yourself together on your toughest, most difficult days.The painful truth? Most practice owners either don’t do this work, or they do it badly. And when that happens, it’s only a matter of time until the cracks show. Poor hiring decisions, a toxic culture, poor team alignment, wasted energy, and a practice that feels harder to lead than it should.Oliver and I share stories from inside our community of practice owners who’ve gone through what we call “vision casting.” These are raw, vulnerable, sometimes emotional sessions that strip back the layers and get to the truth of why their practice exists. And when that clarity hits, you feel it. A good vision gives you goosebumps and butterflies. It attracts the right people, keeps your team moving together and motivated, and fuels you as a leader when the simplest tasks feel impossible.If you’re wondering where to start with your vision, this is the episode for you. Tune in, hear how we do it, and if you’re serious about taking the next step, reach out to Oliver Loveday to find out how we can help.Episode Outline:[01:00] – The Owner’s 3 Core Jobs[03:30] – What Vision Really Means[05:00] – Switching Brains: Logic to Creative[07:00] – Why Vision Matters in Hiring[10:30] – The Goosebump Test[12:00] – Vulnerability & Masks[16:00] – Real-World Examples[27:00] – Humility in Leadership[29:00] – Our Practice Vision[30:30] – What You Need To Do NextConnect with Oliver Loveday:Book A Call with OilverConnect with Oliver on LinkedinFollow Dr. Dave Nicol for More Leadership Insights:Follow Dr. Dave: @drdavenicolLearn more about the Veterinary Leadership AcademyEnjoyed this episode?Leave a review on iTunes and share it with your veterinary colleagues!

In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, I’m addressing yet another wave of bad press, this time from none other than the BBC, whose front-page headline accused rising vet fees of driving more pets to be euthanised.The article tries to point the finger at corporate practices, but let’s be honest, most readers won’t see that nuance. To the public, it’s not “corporates”, it’s “vets.” All of us. Once again, our profession is being dragged through the mud to serve someone else’s agenda.So I’m taking this one personally, and professionally. In this episode, I call out the lazy data, the unverified claims, the internal sabotage from within our own ranks, and the real damage this kind of media narrative causes to public trust and veterinary morale.Corporate practices aren’t going away. And sniping from the sidelines with half-truths and clickbait headlines won’t solve anything. So, what will? Leadership. Engagement. Advocacy. Starting with you.If you’re a vet who cares about the long-term trust, sustainability, and credibility of our profession, this episode is for you.Episode Outline:[00:00] – Another Week, Another Hit Job[01:00] – Corporate Vets as the Easy Target[03:00] – The Public Doesn’t See the Difference[04:15] – “We’ve Lost Trust”? Nonsense[05:30] – What the Data Really Says[06:15] – Economic Euthanasia: Any Proof?[07:10] – What’s Actually Driving Costs[08:00] – Value, Communication, and Leadership[08:50] – Whining Isn’t Leadership[09:30] – Perception Becomes RealityEpisode Links:BBC Article: More pets being put down due to rising vet bills, BBC toldFollow Dr. Dave Nicol for More Leadership Insights:Follow Dave: @drdavenicolExplore Veterinary Leadership Training: Veterinary Leadership AcademyEnjoyed this episode?Leave a review on iTunes and share it with your veterinary friends. Your voice helps others discover the show and join the leadership movement.

In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, I’m tackling a topic that’s going to shape the future of our profession, whether we’re ready or not, I’m talking about AI.Now, I know what you’re thinking. Another shiny tool, another thing to learn. But this one’s different. Used right, AI can help you cut through the chaos, free up your time, and finally start making real progress on the stuff that actually matters, like culture, strategy, and leadership.From SOPs to job ads, marketing content to performance reviews, AI can help you get more done, faster. This episode is your straight-up guide to what’s possible, what’s working, and why leaders who ignore it are going to get left behind.If you’re ready to get out of reactive mode and take back control, this one’s for you.If you want to learn more about how AI can help you and your practice, watch my free webinar now.Episode Outline:00:00 – The divide: AI adopters vs the left-behind02:30 – Life inside a practice manager’s brain04:00 – The stress of decision-making05:00 – How AI helps with hiring, HR, marketing07:00 – It’s a toolkit, not the Terminator10:45 – Ten ways AI saves you hours every week13:00 – Real-world wins: coaching, content, strategy16:35 – Webinar details and final thoughtsEpisode LinksIf you want to learn more about how AI can help you and your practice, watch my free webinar now.Want more leadership tools in your corner? Follow me: @drdavenicolCheck out: Veterinary Leadership AcademyIf this episode hit home, leave a review on iTunes and share it with someone you think could do with some help. That’s how we get better leadership into more practices, where it’s desperately needed.

In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, I’m joined by Mike Porteous – a Level 3 Triathlon Coach, British Triathlon mentor, and the founder of Zig Zag Alive. Mike’s coaching journey spans over two decades, guiding athletes from wobbly first-timers to seasoned competitors with his unique approach to coaching and self-belief.But Mike’s expertise doesn’t stop at sports. He’s also a Swim England instructor teaching children with disabilities through the charity Level Water, and he’s written for the Outdoor Swimming Society, sharing his insights on preparing for big swims and other endurance challenges. Before diving into the world of Lycra and Ironman races, Mike was a social scientist with a PhD, an MBA, and a civil service career – a background that has deeply influenced his coaching philosophy.We explore the core principles of his method, 'Confidence-Centered Coaching,' and unpack how his diverse career journey informs his work with athletes today. From breaking the hamster wheel of habitual overwork to building sustainable, self-belief-driven progress, Mike shares powerful insights on how leaders in any field – including veterinary practice – can learn to coach with empathy, create space for growth, and drive genuine progress without burnout.If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of constant hustle with little reflection, or if you want to learn how to inspire lasting change in your team, this episode is a must-listen. It was a huge pleasure to bring someone who coaches me into the limelight. I hope this shines some light on a keystone subject for all leaders.Episode Outline:[00:00] – Meet Mike Porteous: Coach & Founder of Zig Zag Alive.[03:15] – From Civil Service to Triathlon.[05:30] – What Is Confidence-Centered Coaching?[08:45] – Coaching vs. Telling (aka consulting).[12:00] – Creating Space for Growth.[15:20] – The Hamster Wheel of Leadership.[19:00] – Coaching in Action.[22:30] – Confidence Through Ownership.[26:45] – Swim Coaching for Children with Disabilities.[29:30] – Beyond Belief: Mike’s Book.[33:00] – How Leaders Can Coach.[36:45] – Sustainable Success.[40:30] – Looking Forward.[44:00] – Wrapping Up.Episode Resources:Mike’s Book: Beyond Belief: The Art of Confidence-Centered Coaching by Mike PorteousConnect with Mike Porteous on LinkedinZig Zag Alive’s WebsiteBrene BrownThe Human Behind the Coach, Claire PatrickFollow Dr. Dave Nicol for More Leadership Insights:Follow Dave: @drdavenicolLearn more about Veterinary Leadership Training: Veterinary Leadership AcademyEnjoyed this episode?Leave a review on iTunes and share it with your veterinary colleagues!