Conversations that transform teams
Communication can strengthen a veterinary team—or slowly erode trust, connection, and morale. In the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of veterinary medicine, conversations can easily become task-focused and transactional, prioritizing efficiency over meaningful human connection. Yet the quality of workplace communication is critical to team culture, psychological safety, collaboration, and retention.
This full-day training explores how everyday conversations can become powerful tools for building healthier, more connected veterinary teams. Participants will learn practical communication strategies that foster trust, empathy, belonging, and stronger workplace relationships. Through reflective listening, open-ended questions, and emotional awareness, participants will discover how small shifts in communication can strengthen collaboration, reduce conflict, and support more connected teams. Participants will also identify common “connection busters” that undermine trust and teamwork, and learn “connection builders” that strengthen relationships, deepen collaboration, and contribute to a healthier workplace culture.
Thank you to Merck Animal Health.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Understand how workplace communication influences trust, connection, psychological safety, and team culture.
- Differentiate between transactional and relational communication and determine when each approach is most appropriate.
- Apply open-ended questions, reflective listening, and empathy to strengthen communication and foster psychological safety.
- Identify common connection busters and connection builders and evaluate their impact on trust, collaboration, and team relationships.
TRAINING DETAILS:
“Conversations that transform teams” is the first module in AVMA’s Train the Trainer Healthy Workplace Educator Program. The full-day training runs from 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. Central and features guided discussions, small-group breakouts, peer sharing, practice exercises, and self-reflection.
Full-day trainings are available on the following dates. Please sign up for one:
Please note: Before the training, participants must complete a 1-hour asynchronous pre-training video that introduces the module content and teaching approach.