Veterinarians and Leadership: Why Clinical Experience Is Not Enough

The title grabs your attention, and not by chance. The reality is that being a good leader has nothing to do with being a veterinarian... and at the same time, it has everything to do with it.

The great misunderstanding of leadership in the veterinary sector

We all use the word "leadership" frequently. We can identify it when we see it, but it's hard to define. We often associate it with an innate ability: that "something" certain bosses have to guide a team.

But here's an uncomfortable truth:
It's not your fault if you weren't taught to lead. But it is your responsibility to learn.

No one taught us to lead (or to communicate, or to manage)

During veterinary school, we weren't taught to:

• lead teams,
• communicate with clients,
• or market, or manage staff,
• or organize a clinic.

And yet, in the day-to-day life of any veterinary professional, all of this is essential.

If you work in a clinic—or manage one—sooner or later you will find yourself in a leadership position, even if no one has formally prepared you for it. In our sector, leading is not optional: every interaction with your team, your clients, or your colleagues is an opportunity to do so.

How does a veterinarian come to lead a team?

In most cases, for one of these reasons:

• Seniority or experience.
• Having founded or bought a clinic.
• Being the sole or principal veterinarian at the center.

The common thread in all these paths is that no one taught that person to lead. At most, some have read a book or have some interest in management. But it must be said clearly:

Being a good clinician doesn't make you a good leader.

Veterinary medicine and leadership: two distinct skills

Having 10, 15, or even 20 years of clinical experience doesn't guarantee you know how to lead a team. These are different skills, with different learning curves. And the most complex thing is that most veterinarians must lead while still providing clinical care, without the time or focus needed to do it well.

That's why so many teams fail not for lack of talent, but for lack of real leadership.

And "natural" leaders? Do they exist?

Yes, there are people who seem to have a gift for leadership. But we shouldn't leave our development—or that of the team—to chance. Leadership can not only be learned, it must be trained.

As with sports, talent helps, but training makes the difference.

The leader who trains and develops will be better than the one who just improvises.

Take responsibility: leading is also your job

If you are in a leadership position (even if you don't have an official title), now is the time to fully embrace it. It's time to:

• stop improvising,
• stop waiting for others to change,
• and start training as a leader.

Not for ego, but out of responsibility to your team.
Leading is not an "extra" in your clinical work; it's an essential function of your role as a professional.

Final reflection: start today, lead better tomorrow

The first step towards real leadership is not charisma or clinical experience.
It is the willingness to learn and improve every day.

Take responsibility for being a better leader tomorrow than you are today.
Your team deserves it. So do you.

Dr Mark William Hughes MRCVS CertNCS (VPM)