Generational battles are raging in vet med. Older vets roll their eyes at “snowflakes” and their boundaries. Younger vets look at the “dinosaurs” and wonder why on earth burnout is worn like a badge of honour. So who’s right?

In this episode, I dig into why these clashes happen, what both sides are actually getting right, and why the finger-pointing is making things worse, not better. We’ll talk about the lost art of mentorship, the corporate wrecking ball that’s left generations stranded, and the leadership skills that can turn all this conflict into collaboration.

Snowflakes. Dinosaurs. The labels make it easy to judge, but they don’t solve the real problem: our teams are breaking under the weight of division. In this episode, I’ll show you how to stop fighting the wrong battle - and start leading in a way that brings generations together.

Episode Outline:

[00:01 ] – Snowflakes vs Dinosaurs

[02:00 ] – Why the pendulum has swung

[04:07 ] – Burnout as “rite of passage”

[05:31 ] – What younger vets really want

[06:58 ] – The corporate salary trap

[08:23 ] – The Workload Goldilocks Zone

[09:39 ] – The mentorship gap

[11:22 ] – Fragile? Or just learning?

[12:28 ] – Mentorship done right

[13:20 ] – Why leadership is missing

[14:10 ] – Curiosity vs judgment

[15:08 ] – A message to the older generation

[15:35 ] – A message to the younger generation

[16:30 ] – Pets don’t care about labels

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Download the Leadership Actions Study – simple, practical steps to lead better today
• Explore our leadership courses – build the skills to lead your team through complexity
• Follow Dr. Dave Nicol for daily leadership insights

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Is managing conflict and stress within your team becoming a daily struggle?

Are strained relationships and unresolved tensions holding your veterinary practice back?

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Don’t let conflict and stress undermine your practice. Equip yourself with the tools to lead a harmonious, high-performing team.

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