Most leaders want change to be quick and clean. A few tweaks. A new policy. A better week.

But meaningful change – the kind that transforms culture, steadies the ship, and creates a practice you actually love leading – follows a very different rhythm.

In this episode, Oli and I dig into the truth about change. Why overwhelm is a diagnostic, not a character flaw. Why burnout often signals a system problem rather than a personal one. And why rebuilding culture is more like farming than fighting.

We explore the emotional, financial and cultural yields your practice should produce, how to diagnose what’s really driving your stress, and why the first brave step is often removing the wrong person, not adding a new one.

You will learn practical ways to create immediate relief, the long term strategy for sustainable transformation, and why community support acts as a stabilising wall while you do the real work of leadership.

Change is not instant. But there is a path. And when you follow it with intention, the remarkable vet practice you build will give back far more than it takes.

Episode Outline:

[01:05 ] – Why change hurts more than it should

[03:45 ] – Burnout isn’t personal, it’s systemic

[06:37 ] – Culture is the soil everything grows in

[08:14 ] – Who should stay on your team – and who shouldn’t

[10:28 ] – Rebuilding from the core, not the surface

[12:03 ] – Why resistance shows up when standards rise

[14:49 ] – Why meaningful change takes a season

[16:20 ] – Finding relief before real change begins

[19:28 ] – Skills can be replaced, attitudes can’t

[21:47 ] – When work becomes an emotional drain

[23:04 ] – Someone has to own the culture

[23:46 ] – Why community stabilises leaders

[24:34 ] – The clearest path forward

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Need clarity on what needs to change? Book a diagnostic call with Oliver at the Veterinary Leadership Academy and let us walk you through your next steps.
• Download the Leadership Actions Study – practical steps to help you lead with clarity today.https://calendly.com/oliver-vetx/grow-your-vet-practice-1-1-discovery-call
• Explore our leadership courses – build the skills to create a culture your team loves being part of.
• Follow Dr Dave Nicol for daily leadership insights and practical tools for running a thriving veterinary practice.

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