PVMA Keystone Veterinarian Summer 2021 - 13

success. The theory that mental toughness is something
that you " do " pervades the idea that it is something that
you innately possess. Mental fortitude is a skill that is slowly
developed through exposure to adversity and the practice of
overcoming it. Resilience is learned by taking the initiative to
improve and following through with tangible actions.
Shake on it:
Safer, consistent
medications.
Learning in the Moment
One of the most difficult aspects of any enterprise is
finding the time to actually do it. Thankfully, many areas of
mental toughness can be learned on the job through daily
interactions with clients, patients, and team members.
Areas to focus on when confronting situations might include
attitude, outlook, explanatory style, and adaptive capacity.
An example of this would be coaching a team member
to take a brief pause before entering an exam room to
concentrate on one personal objective, such as attitude,
that they should focus on during the appointment. Another
could be encouraging them to have a quiet moment in their
car before clocking in to reflect on their mental outlook for
the day.
Focus on the things that are in your capacity to control and
learn to brush off the rest. This is often a tough lesson to
learn, but once mastered, has an almost therapeutic effect.
Letting go of certain expectations or forgiving oneself for
past mistakes paves the way for real healing and growth to
occur. It's okay to mess up as long as a lesson is learned and
the individual is able to move onward.
When to Shield and When to Yield
Mental toughness is not something that just happens
overnight. It often takes years of practice, patience, and
mindful intention when approaching challenging situations.
We should keep this in mind when coaching our greener
team members. As leaders, we need to push them out of
their mental comfort zones to help build resilience without
feeding them to the wolves. Certain situations might be
well beyond their mental or emotional pliability level. It is
important to gauge each encounter to scan for teaching
moments, as well as when it might be an appropriate time
to send in a seasoned veteran.
Practice Makes Perfect
Just as physical strength is developed over time with hours
of conditioning, mental muscles must also be built in the
same manner. We must set goals in areas where growth
is warranted (improving emotional intelligence, letting go
of mistakes, etc.), and make a plan with specific actions
or exercises to address these areas. Be transparent with
staff members about the process, give praise when it is
warranted, and demonstrate empathy when setbacks occur.
Mental toughness can be taught, and we, as leaders in our
clinics, need to start teaching it.
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About the Author: Bethany Mihalik, CVPM, MHRM, CVT, CCFP
currently serves as the Hospital Administrator of Neffsville
Veterinary Clinic, a 10-doctor, AAHA accredited small animal
practice in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She has been managing
practices in the veterinary industry since 2008, and briefly worked
for the " dark side, " as an Account Training Manager for Vetstreet
in 2011. She is a 19-time NCAA All-American and college record
holder (Clarion University of Pennsylvania - 200 butterfly), and
attributes her success in the veterinary industry to decades of
" resilience " training in the pool. She is the co-author and presenter
of the " Leadership Through Partnership " workshop, a VHMA
and AVMA continuing education program for practice owners
and managers, offered at the Veterinary Leadership Conference.
She earned her B.S. in Communications from Clarion University
of Pennsylvania in 2004, M.H.R.M./M.B.A. from Saint Francis
University of Pennsylvania in 2006, A.A.S. in Veterinary Technology
in 2010 from the Bel-Rea Institute in Denver, CO, and Certified
Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) credentials in March of 2015.
She recently earned her Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional
(CCFP) credentials in 2019. In addition to her duties at Neffsville,
she serves as the President of the Lehigh County Humane Society in
Allentown, PA. She is an active member of the Veterinary Hospital
Managers Association, a content contributor for Veterinary Team
Brief and a Podium Speaker for Zoetis Animal Health. She resides
in the remote Pennsylvania wilderness with her husband, Mike,
lovable rescued mutt, Tickers McSnickers, and feisty feline, Tuna
Badfish Loafnoodle.
Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association | 13
http://www.epicurpharma.com
PVMA Keystone Veterinarian Summer 2021

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