💬 5 Communication Skills That Will Set You Apart

The best veterinary professionals aren’t just clinically sharp. They’re the ones who can walk into a tense consultation and leave with a client who actually follows through on treatment. They’re the ones whose teams want to show up for them. They’re the ones building careers they don’t want to escape from. The difference? They’ve mastered communication. It’s not a bonus skill anymore. It’s what separates people who are good at their jobs from people who love their jobs and get ahead.

You’ve already put in the work to become a solid clinician. You know your medicine. You care about your patients. Now here’s what most vets don’t realize: adding five specific communication skills to what you already do changes everything. Better client outcomes. A team that actually communicates instead of just existing in the same space. And for your career, doors start opening that you didn’t even know were there. None of this requires you to become a different person. It’s about being intentional with the skills you’re already using every single day…

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1. Active Listening

Think about the last time an owner started telling you about their pet’s symptoms. Were you truly listening, or was your mind already jumping to likely diagnoses? Active listening isn’t just about hearing words – it’s about catching the full story.

Good active listening changes everything: owners share crucial details they might otherwise forget, staff flag potential problems before they grow, and fewer things get missed during handovers.

Make it work in practice:

• Put down the clipboard or tablet (just for a minute!) and make eye contact
• Watch for those telling pauses when owners or colleagues might have more to say
• For those few minutes, it’s just you and the person you’re talking to – everything else can wait
• Check understanding with simple phrases like “So what I’m hearing is…” or “Let me make sure I’ve got this right…”

Quick Tip: The 30-Second Rule – When an owner or colleague stops speaking, wait 30 seconds before jumping in. You’d be amazed how often they’ll add vital information they initially held back.

Harvard Business Review: What Is Active Listening?

Look, I used to think I was a good listener until I actually tried the active listening that I heard about in a podcast. The biggest difference? Owners tell me stuff in consults now that they never mentioned before – stuff that completely changes my treatment approach. Yeah sure, it takes an extra minute or two, but saves loads of time fixing misunderstandings later – Anita K, Mixed Practice Vet, Leeds, UK

2. Clear and Concise Information Delivery

We all know that moment. Whether it’s a client staring blankly at your treatment explanation, or a colleague missing key details during handover, getting information across clearly can make or break your day.

Make it work in practice:

• Break down complex information into clear steps – whether for a new grad nurse or a worried pet owner
• Use everyday comparisons: “grape-sized mass” beats measurements every time
• Write key points down – especially for medication protocols or updated treatment plans
• Match your style to your audience – some colleagues want the full pathophysiology, others just need the action steps
• Be direct about important details – costs with clients, concerns with colleagues, capacity issues with management

Quick Tip: The Mirror Check – After explaining something important – to anyone – ask them to reflect back the key points. Not to test them, but to spot any gaps or confusion early.

Harvard DCE: 8 Ways You Can Improve Your Communication Skills

You know what made the biggest change in me? Realizing this stuff matters just as much with the team as with clients. Started using the same clear communication style with our new nurses that I use with owners. Even started doing bullet points for my boss instead of long emails. Things actually get done now instead of getting lost in translation – Peter H, Senior Vet, Houston, USA

3. Non-verbal Communication Mastery

Did you know that what you don’t say often speaks louder than what you do? From crossed arms during a difficult conversation with your boss to checking your phone during a colleague’s case presentation – our bodies talk even when we’re silent.

Make it work in practice:

• Keep your stance open when discussing treatment options or workplace issues (uncrossed arms, facing the person, relaxed shoulders)
• Put your phone away during important conversations (yes, even if you’re waiting for lab results)
• Position yourself at eye level when possible – whether you’re talking to a seated client or a colleague
• Watch for signs of discomfort or confusion – fidgeting, lack of eye contact, crossed arms
• Mirror the other person’s energy level (within reason) – it helps build rapport

Quick Tip: The Power Position – If you need to have a difficult conversation, avoid doing it across a desk or exam table. Sit or stand at a slight angle instead – it’s less confrontational and encourages more open dialogue.

HelpGuide: Body Language and Nonverbal Communication

I noticed my consulting nurse always looked uncomfortable during our morning rounds. Turns out, me standing over her while she sat at the computer was making her nervous about speaking up. Such a simple fix – now I pull up a chair or we both stand. Suddenly she’s much more willing to share her overnight observations – Mike D, Night Vet, Manchester, UK

4. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Being smart about emotions doesn’t mean getting wrapped up in them. It means reading the room, whether that’s picking up on a client’s hidden anxieties about costs or noticing when your team’s stress levels are reaching breaking point.

Make it work in practice:

• Count to five before responding to heated emails or confrontational situations
• Start tough conversations with “Help me understand…” rather than jumping to defense or solutions
• Learn your team’s stress tells – some go quiet, others get snippy, many hide in their work
• Create clear stopping points: “I understand you’re upset, but we need to discuss this professionally”
• Build in recovery time after emotional cases – for yourself and your team

Quick Tip: The Validation Step – Before offering solutions, try a simple “That sounds really difficult” or “I can see why you’re concerned.” It takes seconds but makes people feel heard.

Harvard Business School: Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: Why It’s Important

Two years into practice, I thought being professional meant keeping everything business-like. Then a senior vet told me something that stuck – showing you understand doesn’t mean you have to fix everything. Now I spend less time defending and more time acknowledging. My team meetings run better, and surprisingly, even the angry clients calm down faster – Sarah B, Practice Owner, Sydney, Australia

5. Team Communication Protocols

Every practice has its medical protocols and regimens, but few extend that same structured thinking into the critical area of communication. Yet clear communication rules can be just as important as your standard treatment plans.

Make it work in practice:

• Set expectations for response times – what needs an immediate reply vs. what can wait
• Create clear channels – urgent matters go to phones, routine updates to email, daily notes to team chat
• Establish meeting ground rules – no phones, everyone gets heard, decisions get documented
• Define escalation paths – who to contact when, especially for after-hours or management issues
• Make feedback a two-way street – regular check-ins on how the protocols are working

Quick Tip: The Check-In Rule – Start each shift with a 5-minute team huddle. Not to discuss cases, but to make sure everyone knows who’s doing what and who needs support.

NCBI Bookshelf: Professional Communication and Team Collaboration

We were great at medical protocols but terrible at basic team communication. Started treating our communication rules as seriously as our medical ones – wrote them down, trained on them, updated them when needed. Now there’s way less confusion about who’s handling what, and people actually know where to take their concerns – Lauren T, Head Veterinarian, Toronto, Canada

Closing Thoughts…

These five skills aren’t something you add on top of everything else you’re already doing. They’re about doing what you’re already doing more effectively. When you listen instead of just hearing, when you explain things clearly instead of assuming people get it, when you notice what your body’s saying in a conversation, when you actually acknowledge what someone’s feeling before you problem-solve, and when you set communication expectations with your team, everything shifts. Your days feel less chaotic. Your team functions better. Your clients trust you more. And yeah, your career moves forward because you’re the person people want to work with and for.

Start with one. Pick whichever skill feels most relevant to what’s frustrating you right now. Maybe it’s the consultations that go sideways, or the team dynamics that feel off, or the handovers where things get lost. Just one. Practice it intentionally for a week or two. You’ll notice the difference immediately. That’s how this works. Small, deliberate changes compound fast. You’re not trying to overhaul who you are. You’re just getting better at something you’re already doing.

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