Who was (or is) your best boss, and why?

RE: Who was (or is) your best boss, and why?

molladog — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 08:45:35 GMT

My best boss was Angus Buckling, fantastic vet, superb surgeon and could turn his hand to anything. He would always help clear up the mess in theatre after an op in the middle of the night and would also help clear up at the end of the normal working ops day. He treated us all as equals, schedule 3 work was very actively encouraged, I did loads I do not get to do now, and was always there if you had any concerns about anything. He is retired now and the profession has lost one of the best in my opinion, pity more vets nowadays are not like him as attitudes to staff have definitely changed for the worse now.

RE: Who was (or is) your best boss, and why?

jojofruits — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 18:28:06 GMT

Rai and Liz Janz, previous owners of Sandhole Veterinary Centre. best bosses ever! we were all so gutted when they retired. They really went the extra mile, and knew which team problems needed which kind of level of support, when to leave things and when to intervene. I learned a lot from them both and to this day think about them with great fondness.I remember one year I qualified my horse for the dressage champs at Hickstead, I couldn't afford to hire a horsebox to take him. Liz called me into the office and I thought I was in trouble. Instead she said " We would like to hire you a horsebox for the weekend so you can compete in the regionals" They also came to watch. Wonderful people who I wish I was still in touch with.

Lynn Henderson, Regional manager at Village vet Cambs- an all round good egg, super fair and incredible with people. She has a very challenging role and is the perfect stepping stone between the practice staff and the partners. She is about the fairest person I have ever worked with, and there is not a situation she hasn't come across before. She's also great fun and incredible kind. What ever she is paid its not enough!

RE: Who was (or is) your best boss, and why?

lolly — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 16:57:25 GMT

Andrew Stasiw. He was my boss in a small charity clinic. We only worked together for a short time before the clinic was closed and we were all made redundant but he was great to work for. He was always very calm and fair. He always put the animals needs first, even though some of our clients drove us mad! But he stuck up for his staff with abusive clients.

RE: Who was (or is) your best boss, and why?

Sal the 1st — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 10:48:49 GMT

I have had a few good bosses - several retired or deceased now ( I don't think I was the cause??). My boss now Richard Carter is one of the best I have had - drives me mad on a regular basis, we don't always see eye to eye but we generally get through it and stay friends. I like his approach to practice in that it isn't always about the money its more about the animal and a biggie for me, as my previous practice had been a corporate, was that this practice isn't sales driven - the only food we have in is either for inpatients or is Rx. We have some really nice clients who have a lot of respect for him.

The second one is not really a boss but somebody who helped me a lot when I was at college learning how to be a nurse. Through her I learnt a lot about exotics which I never forgot, she was extremely patient with my painfully slow understanding of the nervous system but with her help I (eventually!) got it. I think she is still in practice in the Cambridge area Jill Pearson. I doubt she will remember me out of the hundreds she must have taught over the years.

Another boss I remember fondly was Eileen Mason of the old Blue Cross in Grimsby - I spent two years nearly as her nurse. Was terrified of her for approximately the first 18mths but actually once you got to know her her bark was a lot worse than her bite. She had very high expectations of her nursing staff. Not only would you be confident and competent but you would also be well presented and yes that meant clean white apron, pressed uniform, polished shoes and black tights, no nail polish, no make up and no jewellery, long hair tied back, short hair tidy. Might not seem important to many now but I think in many ways she was right a slapdash appearance = a slapdash attitude and not somebody a client would either respect or chose to leave their pet with. A tiny lady and working in a rough area with some very rough clients and in difficult conditions but you know what we never had a problem with stroppy clients - ever. She had their respect.

There are lots of other people that have helped me along the way but if we are sticking to bosses ....

RE: Who was (or is) your best boss, and why?

Alison Clare Hickman — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 17:53:41 GMT

i think the blue print is inborn but the road map is learned, or at least honed by experience. Nature AND nurture.

Some of us have a harder journey than others to find the successful behaviours. But those that try and modify get my vote.

Some of us never have the self awareness to realise the problem starts and finishes with us; repeating failing behaviour patterns and blaming it all on anyone and everything but ourselves. You get the raspberry from me.

Some of us lack confidence. You get my support to try and fly higher.

Leadership is not for the faint hearted and won't suit everyone's career wishes. Those that rise to the position need to remember they are there as Guru's, Directors of Endeavour and Custodians of Respect - with a sprinkling of fun and prison officer (!).

what does anyone else say????!!!!

RE: Who was (or is) your best boss, and why?

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 14:25:06 GMT

Thank you both - must say, as moderator of this site and vetsurgeon.org, I guess I am exposed to more of the bad stories about life in practice than most, and it's really lovely to read such uplifting stuff for a change.

Anyone else had (or have) a great boss?

And I wonder .. what do you think, can the qualities that make people a great boss be learned, or do you think they're just made that way?

RE: Who was (or is) your best boss, and why?

Katie Anakin — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 08:32:48 GMT

My best boss still to this date (and now one of my best friends) is Carme Tordesillas - Olivar. I emailed every Vets in Liverpool asking for work experience straight out of University and she was the only one who got back to me. After doing that for a few months she hired me full time with no real experience and took them time to train me in everything. I struggled for a few months with the culture shock of how much work there was to do, and she still just kept gently leading me in the right direction when the other vets in practice were really annoyed with my ineptitude.

She allowed me to grow in the practice and everytime I got comfortable she added more for me to do (accounts, debtors) so I was constantly being challenged to do better. She entertained my obsession with surgery and taught me to suture and allowed me to help in the removal of my own dogs dew claws.

She was and still is a total inspiration and if she ever decides she is coming back to the UK I'm immediately going back to work for her. If my husband would move to dubai I'd still be working for her now!

WONDERFUL VET!

RE: Who was (or is) your best boss, and why?

Alison Clare Hickman — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 21:06:11 GMT

Hall of Fame.

1. Mrs Sharon Parylo RVN (ex College Animal Welfare) for her example how to be an outstanding veterinary nurse. All standards upheld. Excellence personified. Academic and practical education imparted with skill and professionalism. No prisoners taken and hard work rewarded. What a gal!! Thank you.

2. Mr Andrew Bodey BVSc CertVR MRCVS. For his complete attention to detail, meticulousness, brains and egalitarian attitude.

3. Mr John Smith BVSc MRCVS for his gentlemanly manner, (always proper, unfailingly polite) but especially for the work/life balance of tea and biscuit breaks every day for the team. A chance to relax and then return back into the madness, refreshed and appreciated.

4. Mrs Helen Stevens BVM&S MRCVS and Dr Gemma Townsend BVetMed MRCVS both for being great surgeons and educators. Fun to work with, supportive and great team players and leaders by example. Laughs and hard work - winning combo

5. Ms Nikki Drew RVN. Never my boss but an inspirational nurse to me. Schedule 3 guru. Respect.

6. Sal the 1st Dedicated. Hard working. Knowledgeable. Puts others first. If you allow her to teach you her skills and attitude to life (need over want, make do and mend, aeronautics, motorcycling, sense over stupidity, level headedness, a mentor... A few of her attributes) then you will find yourself a winner. Sal has never been my boss but I think if she was, and I followed her lead, I would be a fantastic RVN, spit spot. All the right attributes, you only have to listen...

Summary. My ideal boss is an educator, egalitarian, firm but fair, charismatic and fun, upholds standards, supportive, works hard, takes no cr*p, excellent at what they do and tells me they are proud of me when I do well.

Where are you please?!

Ali h