023: The Retention Effect: Communication During Crisis

In this episode of The Veterinary Culture Lab, Andi and Josh explore what actually makes people stay in veterinary workplaces during difficult times—and why communication may be one of the most powerful retention tools we have. Grounded in research on positive communication and The Great Resignation, this conversation unpacks how transparency, flexibility, support, and trust shape the way veterinary professionals experience stress, crisis, and connection at work. Because it turns out—people do not just remember the hard days…they remember how those hard days felt, and who they felt them with. From COVID leadership lessons to everyday “mini-crises” inside veterinary hospitals, this episode highlights how communication is not just something teams do—it becomes part of the culture itself. And when leaders and coworkers communicate with honesty, humanity, and care, resilience becomes something people build together instead of carrying alone. You’ll hear:  • Why positive communication plays a major role in employee retention  • What veterinary teams remember most during stressful or uncertain moments  • How transparency and flexibility strengthen trust during crisis  • Why “micro moments” of support can shape workplace culture over time  • How structuration theory explains the way communication creates culture  • Why most veterinary communication training misses the other 98% of workplace conversations  • Practical ways leaders and teams can create cultures people actually want to stay in Whether you are leading through uncertainty, navigating a difficult season with your team, or simply trying to create a workplace where people feel supported and valued, this episode offers a practical and hopeful look at how communication shapes culture—and why the way we talk to each other during hard times matters more than we think. Resource Links:  Episode Article: Title: The Structuration of Positive Communication Experiences: The Case of the Great Resignation  Authors: Elizabeth A. Williams , Jennifer S. Linvill, Emeline Ojeda-Hecht, Meghan R. Cosgrove,Autumn Buzzetta, and Abby Konkel DOI: 10.1177/23294884241263553 Flourish Academy - Certificate in Cultivating Positive Team Communication (https://www.flourish.vet/programs/aca...)   Florida Man This Week - Cats  (https://patch.com/florida/bradenton/m...) What Do You Think? Reach out to us and let us know at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) Your Hosts: Andi Davison LVT, CAPP, APPC (https://www.flourish.vet/andi)   Josh Vaisman MAPPCP, CCFP (https://www.flourish.vet/josh) At Flourish Veterinary Consulting (http://www.flourish.vet) we renovate veterinary cultures. We diagnose what’s working, blueprint what’s next, and train every team member - blending positive psychology with real-world experience - so thriving becomes the norm, not the myth.  Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and Catch Up 06:17 Leading Through COVID 14:58 Study Overview and Methods 21:36 Key Findings Positive Communication 23:12 Why Leaders Struggle to Be Transparent 25:41 Flexibility Builds Trust 26:47 Flexibility Builds Culture 32:35 Everyone Shapes Culture 48:09 Florida Man Finale Headed to AVMA in Anaheim this July? We would LOVE to meet you in person! Come and check out Andi and Josh's sessions.  Andi will speak on Friday July 10th and Josh on Monday July 13th.  Stop by a session and introduce yourself—we always love meeting members of the Veterinary Culture Lab community.