The way you support and encourage in the morning may not be how you inspire in the afternoon. Take much-needed breaks to recharge so you can model balance and sustainability to your team. Photo courtesy Rebecca Rose Leadership is not a single event—it’s a practice you live out moment by moment. The way you support and encourage in the morning may not be the same as how you inspire in the afternoon. As a veterinary professional, your leadership shows up in the way you prepare for the day, the way you handle challenges, and how you intentionally build your career. Let's explore the daily habits and long-term practices that ignite each day and fuel growth in your veterinary career. Leadership begins with you Where does a veterinary team member or circumstance become leading or leadership? Who leads and who follows? The truth is, leadership begins with you—today, in this time, in this very moment. Everyone leads in their day. You are the director of your daily destiny, and you alone are responsible for your outcomes. Similar to the accountability question we pondered in my previous column,1 leadership and accountability begin with you. Look in the mirror. A mirror reflecting individual leadership and accountability. Know thyself: The foundation of leadership Self-awareness is essential. Most people don’t stop to reflect when life is smooth—it’s during challenges that we pause, reassess, and grow. Ask yourself these questions: Do I recognize that my life and career are in my hands alone? Who is responsible for my happiness and success? What do I want in my life and career? What steps am I taking to achieve those goals? What habits are holding me back? You can’t lead others well if you don’t understand yourself. Growth in leadership begins with honest reflection. Morning: Setting the tone for success Picture this: the surgery room is prepped, records updated, and the team is ready. You’re confident the morning will go smoothly—until the veterinarian walks in stressed and irritable. The energy shifts instantly. Moments like this reveal why morning preparation matters. By grounding yourself early, you carry calm and composure into the workplace, no matter what unfolds. Try and develop these four habits for a successful morning: Rise early. Give yourself space to start the day calmly. Eat well. A balanced meal stabilizes your energy. Move your body. Even 15 minutes of stretching or walking sharpens your focus. Visualize. Picture yourself handling the day’s tasks with confidence. Leadership takeaway: A steady morning routine makes you resilient when challenges appear. Staying steady when others aren’t Every team member knows what it’s like to work alongside someone who had a rough start. Perhaps the veterinarian skipped breakfast and rushed in frazzled, or a coworker is distracted after dropping their child off at school following a quick tiff. In these moments, you can choose to model empathy and steadiness. Check out four ways to stay grounded: Maintain composure. Don’t let their stress derail your mood. Don’t take it personally. Their emotions are not about you. Show empathy. Listen and acknowledge without needing to “fix.” Take accountability. If you contributed to the issue, own it and correct it. Example: Acknowledge a veterinarian’s stressful morning, empathize with her, and then redirect the focus toward the prepared schedule. That shift can reset the tone for the whole team. Afternoon: Recharge, regroup, reset By midday, even the strongest leaders feel their energy dip. That’s why lunch breaks matter—not just for health, but as an act of leadership. I once spoke with a veterinarian who skipped lunch every day because she felt “too busy.” Her team begged her to take a break, said they had her back, but she resisted. When I explained she was modeling unsustainable habits, she teared up. She realized leadership meant accepting the gift her team was offering. Here are four benefits of taking a lunch break: Nourishment. Fuel your body with healthy food choices. Focus. Even 15 minutes away boosts concentration. Mindfulness. Eat quietly—without interruptions—as a form of meditation. Exercise. A brisk walk or light workout rejuvenates body and mind. Leadership takeaway: By taking breaks, you model balance and sustainability for your team. Your career is in your hands Leadership does not end with your shift—it extends into how you intentionally grow your career. Rarely will a manager say, “My top priority is advancing your career.” That responsibility belongs to you. Explore the following ways to help lead in your career: Write out your career roadmap. Seek mentorship. Network at CE events and professional gatherings. Share your career goals with your manager. Surround yourself with positive peers. Engage a career coach. Leadership takeaway: Create your own opportunities. Don’t wait for someone else to design your future. Leadership as a daily choice Your day and career are in your hands. Leadership is not reserved for managers—it is a daily choice available to everyone. From how you start your morning to how you regroup at lunch, to the way you shape your long-term career, each decision builds momentum. Lead yourself first. Hold yourself accountable to your leadership. By doing so, you become the example that inspires others to follow. So today, ask yourself: How will I choose to lead? How will I choose to show up and lead my day? Rebecca Rose, RVT, CCC (certified career coach), CPEP (certified peaceful euthanasia professional), has a diverse background serving the veterinary community as a credentialed team member and leader, with more than 38 years of experience. Rose has worked in and managed veterinary clinics, collaborates with industry partners, authors articles and books, and facilitates engaging team workshops. She was recently appointed to the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine as one of the first RVT members. Reference The Mirror of Accountability, Rebecca Rose, RVT, Veterinary Practice News, October 2025 https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/mirror-of-accountability-in-the-clinic/.
