009: Ask, Don't Tell: Coaching Skills to Boost Connection in Your Vet Med Culture (PART 1) Artwork

The Veterinary Culture Lab

The Veterinary Culture Lab is your science-backed, real-world blueprint for culture renovation in veterinary medicine. Hosted by Andi and Josh, Positive Change Agents from Flourish Veterinary Consulting, each episode blends research on wellbeing and workplace culture with humor, heart, and actionable strategies. Expect practical tips you can apply right away - so thriving becomes the norm, not the myth.

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The Veterinary Culture Lab

009: Ask, Don't Tell: Coaching Skills to Boost Connection in Your Vet Med Culture (PART 1)

December 16, 2025 • Flourish Veterinary Consulting • Season 1 • Episode 9

In this episode of The Veterinary Culture Lab, Andi and Josh explore what coaching really means in veterinary medicine—and why curiosity might be the most powerful tool we have to strengthen culture.

Grounded in a 2021 meta-analysis of workplace coaching, this conversation unpacks how three evidence-based approaches—GROW, Positive Psychology Coaching, and Cognitive Behavioral Coaching—can help veterinary teams build confidence, connection, and wellbeing. Andi and Josh share why coaching is not advice-giving or mentoring, but a structured, science-backed conversation that helps people clarify goals, see reality more fully, explore new options, and take meaningful steps forward.

From donuts and Ted Lasso to the science of empowerment and agency, this episode will leave you rethinking the way you talk with your team—and why “ask, don’t tell” is the secret to renovating workplace culture.

You’ll hear:

Why coaching is different from advice, therapy, or mentoring
What the research says about coaching’s impact on performance and wellbeing
How GROW, Positive Psychology Coaching, and Cognitive Behavioral Coaching each support veterinary teams
Why curiosity is the throughline of effective coaching conversations
Simple ways to practice curiosity—even on busy, chaotic days

Whether you’re leading a team, mentoring a new grad, or simply hoping for more meaningful workplace conversations, this episode offers a hopeful, practical look at how coaching can change the way veterinary teams connect and thrive.

Resource Links:

Episode Article:

Title: The effectiveness of workplace coaching: A meta-analysis of contemporary psychologically informed coaching approaches
Authors:Qing Wang, Yiming Lai, Jian Xu, & Almuth McDowall

DOI: 10.1108/JWAM-04-2021-0030

Ted Lasso Official Trailer (Season 1) - we wouldn’t want to give too much away now would we?
Ted Lasso - Available on Apple TV

Florida Man This Week - Hot Pink and Naked

What Do You Think? Reach out to us and let us know at Info@flourish.vet

Your Hosts:
Andi Davison LVT, CAPP, APPC

Josh Vaisman MAPPCP, CCFP

At Flourish Veterinary Consulting 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 Introduction to Coaching in Veterinary Medicine

00:42 Casual Conversation and Weekend Plans

01:35 Horse Training and Competitions

04:46 Ted Lasso Fandom

07:43 The Essence of Coaching

08:56 The Importance of Coaching in VetMed

12:27 Research on Coaching Effectiveness

14:13 Popular Coaching Models

16:31 Integrating Coaching Models

20:32 Identifying Progress and Strengths

21:11 The Power of Curiosity in Coaching