Vetnews | Februarie 2025 40 « BACK TO CONTENTS Influential Life Coaching ARE YOUR TEAMS COMMITTED? Dr Mats Abatzidis B.Sc. B.V.Sc. New Insights Certified VIP Life Coach mats.abatzidis@yahoo.co.za Founder of Influential Life Coaching http://www.matsaba.wix.com/drmatscoach Author of the published book “Life outside your comfort zone. Better and beyond all expectations”. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=searchalias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=Abatzidis http://www.life-coach-directory.co.za/mats-abatzidis Vet's Health I Life Coaching I hope this article finds you and your families well and safe!!! Last month we defined and discussed all about making progress rather than striving for perfection. This month we will look at ways of identifying whether your teammates or partners in practice are truly committed to the success of the whole business, or just going through the motions. I remember the first few weeks of starting private practice, when everything is new and exciting as there’s an inner joy that comes with discovering your potential within the practice, and how you can make a difference. However, once things started to get serious, I wanted more clarity about where I fit in within the practice, especially as the other young assistant and I started thinking about buying the practice from the owner. Ultimately, I was questioning whether I was committed to this practice and potential endeavour. When considering the concept of commitment, it is wise to know that commitment isn’t a one-time declaration but an ongoing/evolving pact, requiring continual renewal and intentional effort. Furthermore, ongoing active and deliberate communication is essential once you have committed to a practice and/or partner(s). Communication also allows you to remind yourself of your overall purpose/mission, redefine your intermediate goals, as well as build resilience in your partnerships. On the other hand, if you are the senior partner looking for a younger partner to join you, and you are searching for signs that your partner is committed to you, we put together a list that’ll help you determine your partnership status. However, don’t use this list to get out of having a real conversation with the person you’re considering. If you truly want a committed business partner, you must talk about it, even if it makes you uncomfortable. 1. Your Business Partner Edifies You: they will minimize your flaws and emphasize your positive attributes. Furthermore, the admiration and respect that resonates in their voice when discussing you as their partner with others will be noticeable. These are not just compliments, they reflect a much deeper and more sincere appreciation and acknowledgement of each other’s qualities, even when not in each other’s presence. That is a massive indication of true respect for you. While this can sometimes make a person seem ignorant of your negative qualities, do not be surprised should your future partner wish to discuss something of that nature with you, which I would personally welcome. Having the courage to have an adult and real conversation about you should be encouraged and embraced, towards building a strong partnership. 2. Your Partner Speaks Using the “We” Language: when someone is committed, they often speak about themselves in conversations as “we.” For example, if you ask a committed person, “What do you do for a living?” rather than respond with “I am a veterinarian,” they’ll say, “We have a veterinary clinic.”“We” language is a significant indicator that a shared partnership is forming. When partners begin to use inclusive language like ‘we’ instead of ‘I,’ it signifies a unified front. That means that you most likely share the same business dreams and goals, but it is also a very powerful tool when encountering conflict as a team, instead of being in opposition to one another or performing individually. 3. Your Business Partner Meets Your Needs (and Vice-Versa): individuals in committed partnerships choose to be there because they are meeting each other’s needs. I am talking about seemingly insignificant things, like passing you the forceps and making your coffee i.e. beyond basic tasks. Though everyone has different needs (for instance, some people want affirmation every day, while others want a business partner who’s comfortable with just getting on with the job and getting things done independently), if your business partner can identify what you need and provide it to you, they are likely very committed to your performance on the job, as well as the overall success of the practice. The disclaimer here, although obvious, must be mentioned: it is important to accept that we are human, and it is impossible to meet 100% of each other’s needs all the time. However, if there is a mutual investment in doing our best to understand and support each other’s needs as partners, towards a common goal and business purpose, we will be on the right path. 4. Mutual Satisfaction: expressions of high levels of satisfaction showcase a profound emotional connection and a sense of fulfilment within the partnership. Contentment within a partnership speaks volumes about its strength and commitment. Happy partners are more willing to go the extra mile. 5. Lack of Interest in Other Ventures: this follows on from the satisfaction above as a natural consequence, where business partners don’t pay attention to potential alternative partners/business opportunities. There should be a continued and intentional effort to invest energy into the partnership. 6. Your Business Partner Makes Sacrifices for You: partnerships and commitment require sacrifices. It may be sacrificing personal preferences, adjusting routines, or even making life-altering decisions that prioritize the clinic’s welfare/success. That’s commitment! Next month, we will continue looking at more ideas for improving our quality of life and overall performance both at work and at home. v
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