Do you feel respected?

RE: Do you feel respected?

Bob Russell — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 13:39:55 GMT

I think we often get the feeling that we have 'impostor syndrome' because we care about what we do and often lack the clear evidence to confirm a diagnosis rather than suspect it.

Not sure my guesswork has been honed over the years but much of the time the diagnosis is pretty close (or patient responds or gets better).

We try hard and generally that seems clear to our clients.

At the risk of one stars, I feel much of the time we are dealing with the 'art' rather than the science. How nice it would be if it could all be science!

RE: Do you feel respected?

Julie Innes — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 08:59:59 GMT

I do feel quite respected for the most part, but I think that actually puts a bit more pressure on! People expect that I am going to work wonders, and even after 23 years as a vet I often suffer from Imposter Syndrome.

I don't think people respect/ value you just because you are a vet though- you have to build that respect through reputation, and I am very aware that it could all come crashing down. People are fickle. They listen more attentively to the guy in the park than the professional, and respect your opinion as long as it tallies with theirs and is what they want to hear!

RE: Do you feel respected?

Mark Hedberg — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 08:51:12 GMT

The trouble is, with our current materialistic, consuming oriented society, nobody really has any idea what 'value' is anymore. The only commonly known metric is 'how much dosh do i want to give for it', and that's not a hugely helpful one here in 'the profession'.

We are taught almost nothing about the human mind in vet school, and yet 90% of what we do is based on a purely emotional relationship, the human-animal companion animal bond. Small wonder we struggle.

RE: Do you feel respected?

Clive Ansell — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 15:47:14 GMT

Maybe a better question would be, "do you feel valued?"

I think that old fashioned respect for professional people is a thing of the past; many folk just see us now as a money grabbing service industry out for a quick buck (although, sadly, part of the profession portrays that image very well).

It does seem to vary enormously from practice to practice though. I feel far more liked, appreciated, respected and valued when working for one of my regular well established independent practices with decent clients, than I do when working for one of the chains or corporates which seem to attract a***holes a different type of clientele (Ones that typically moan about everything, want something for nothing, and begrudge spending anything on their pet).

RE: Do you feel respected?

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 15:07:26 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]You're asking the wrong question. It should be "Do and it is you feel liked?"[/quote]Its not the wrong question just a different one.

I do feel respected and it the perceived loss of respect that is one reason I don't relish the thought of retirement. I'm sure I'm respected by a lot of people people who don't like me and vice versa.

RE: Do you feel respected?

J G Wray — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 11:52:53 GMT

You're asking the wrong question. It should be "Do you feel liked?"

There are a number of Veterinary management consultants who see the "need to be liked" as an inhibitor for personal and practice progress. They will talk about FOG, Fear, Obligation and Guilt inhibiting veterinary surgeons from charging correctly, for instance.

This "need to be liked" may be keenest in environments where "likes" are some sort of measure of personal value.

RE: Do you feel respected?

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 11:18:11 GMT

I'm not convinced we live in a respectful society anymore, as in respect purely for one's profession, role or perceived status. The sort of respect that engenders trust has to be earned and I think that is a good thing on the whole. I try to treat all people with respect, but not blind unquestioning respect that makes me reluctant to challenge someone in a position of authority if I think they are wrong. It is easy to say we feel disrespected when actually someone is asking us to justify our opinion and advice but if it is done without aggression or accusations of ulterior motives or personal criticism than it can still be done with respect.