--- title: Solving Real Problems at Your Veterinary Hospital Takes Real Time description: "Because I’m a change agent and love to create change when it creates a better outcome, I’m a fan of solving problems. One of my favorite quotes is from Albert Einstein:\n\nWe can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.\n\nAll too often, we create problems because of the way we think about things and then try to fix those problems without changing the thought process that generated the problem. This is as true for veterinary leadership as it is for leadership (or people, in general) in any organization." image: https://vetcomm.academy/hubfs/vets%20holding%20dog.jpeg --- [![vetcomm_logo](https://vetcomm.academy/hubfs/branding/vett-comm-logo.svg) ![](https://vetcomm.academy/hs-fs/hubfs/vetcomm-logo-icon-only.png?width=100&height=100&name=vetcomm-logo-icon-only.png)](https://vetcomm.academy) - [Home](https://vetcomm.academy) - [Free Webinar](https://vetcomm.academy/free-webinar) - [About VetComm Academy](https://vetcomm.academy/vetcomm-academy) - [About Dr. Bingham](https://vetcomm.academy/about-brett) - [Testimonials](https://vetcomm.academy/testimonials) - [Blog](https://vetcomm.academy/blog) × ![](https://vetcomm.academy/hs-fs/hubfs/vetcomm-logo-icon-only.png?width=100&height=100&name=vetcomm-logo-icon-only.png) × - [Home](https://vetcomm.academy) - [Free Webinar](https://vetcomm.academy/free-webinar) - [About VetComm Academy](https://vetcomm.academy/vetcomm-academy) - [About Dr. Bingham](https://vetcomm.academy/about-brett) - [Testimonials](https://vetcomm.academy/testimonials) - [Blog](https://vetcomm.academy/blog) ![solving real problems](https://vetcomm.academy/hubfs/vets%20holding%20dog.jpeg) # Solving Real Problems at Your Veterinary Hospital Takes Real Time **Posted in:** [Veterinary Exam](https://vetcomm.academy/blog/tag/veterinary-exam) · [Veterinarian Skills](https://vetcomm.academy/blog/tag/veterinarian-skills) · [Veterinary Communication](https://vetcomm.academy/blog/tag/veterinary-communication) **Posted by:** [Brett Bingham](https://vetcomm.academy/blog/author/brett-bingham) on July 12, 2023 at 10:00 am Because I’m a change agent and love to create change when it creates a better outcome, I’m a fan of solving problems. One of my favorite quotes is from Albert Einstein: > “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” All too often, we create problems because of the way we think about things and then try to fix those problems without changing the thought process that generated the problem. This is as true for veterinary leadership as it is for leadership (or people, in general) in any organization. ## The Bigger Challenge There is a bigger challenge that we face when trying to solve problems. That challenge is of time. My twist on the above Einstein quote is: > “We can’t solve problems any faster than it took us to create those problems.” Take a moment to think about the biggest problems you face today as a veterinarian and a leader at your pet hospital. Whether those problems are in your personal or professional life. The biggest problems you face are likely those that have been around for a very long time. They have likely evolved from something small that wasn’t a real issue then but have become something seemingly insurmountable over time. ## How Do We Overcome This Challenge? I recognize that solving big problems can be done quickly (or at least more quickly) if we put enough effort into it. In the same way, referring to Einstein, if we are willing to change our frame of mind and if we work hard enough, we can overcome anything. I believe there are at least four key things required to fix a problem more rapidly than it took us to create that problem. ### 1. Are You Willing to Admit Your Faults? Just like any addiction, you have to be willing to admit you have a problem. Over the years of working with leaders to help solve their business problems, I’ve found that too many are not willing to admit they have a problem… more importantly, leaders aren’t willing to admit that they are likely the reason the problems exist. When your tendency is to defend the symptoms of the problem, you are not going to get to the root. You aren’t going to change your way of thinking without admitting your way of thinking is problematic. ### 2. Are You Open-Minded? By nature, humans are very dogmatic (yes, I found a way to use dog in my sentence). We want to think that the way it’s always been done is the way it should be done. This way of thinking tends to run rampant in veterinary care settings, in particular. Your processes, hospital culture, methods of communication, etc., should always be evolving. It reminds me of the story where the daughter asked her mom, “Why do we cut the ends off the roast before putting it in the pan?” Mom didn’t know other than she’d been doing that for years. Mom asked Grandma the same question, who also didn’t know the answer other than it’s been done that way for years. Grandma asked Great-Grandma who responded, “Because my pot was too short and needed it to be cut to fit.” When you are dogmatic and think that the only solutions you thought of before are the only solutions to consider, you’ll never solve anything. ### 3. Are You Willing to Blow It Up? Nothing bad can go away without replacing it with good. You can’t lose weight by not eating. You have to replace bad food with good food in the right proportions. You can’t make a problem go away without filling that void with something good. So, are you willing to go to the drawing board and start from the ground up? Are you willing to properly design a good system that will replace the bad? That doesn’t mean you will need to do that but the willingness to do that may mean all the difference in the world to achieve your goal of making a meaningful change. ### 4. Are You Willing to Put the Time and Effort In? Years ago, I came up with the concept of the change rejection curve. The concept is pretty simple. Anytime you want to make a change, you are going to see a dip in performance. You will be frustrated with that dip. You will start to wonder why you ever thought the change was a good idea. In some cases, the change will see a positive impact soon enough that you’ll push through to the next level. In some cases, you’ll give up too soon, go back to your old ways, and never see the improvement you were going for. So, are you willing to put in the time and effort to ensure that the change you are trying to make will work? Are you ready to demonstrate that you are worthy of the performance increase you seek? ## Final Thoughts I recognize that my idea of not being able to solve problems faster than they were created is a bit over-simplified. Sure, it’s possible that a problem that was 10 years in the making can be solved in a year. That quote of mine is intentional hyperbole. You can find ways to solve problems much faster but it requires real effort. It will still, likely, take much longer than you’d prefer. You are changing bad habits. You are changing hearts and minds. You are changing and affecting things you may not have considered before. Affecting real change takes real time. Don’t skimp on the time and effort when it comes to your leadership, your team, or your veterinary hospital as a whole. Push through. Make sure you have actually solved the problem before you move to the next thing. ### Related Posts ### [![veterinary editing script](https://vetcomm.academy/hs-fs/hubfs/veterinarian%20editing%20a%20script.jpeg?width=500&height=500&name=veterinarian%20editing%20a%20script.jpeg) Veterinary Exam Veterinarian Skills The Vital Role of Scripts in Veterinary Exam Room Conversations Communication lies at the heart of effective veterinary care. As veterinarians, our ability to convey information, educate pet owners, and build trust greatly influences the overall well-being of our patients. 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Posted by Brett Bingham on July 6, 2023 10:00 AM Read More](https://vetcomm.academy/blog/inspiring-and-motivating-your-veterinary-hospital-staff-through-effective-communication-1) ### [![personality](https://vetcomm.academy/hs-fs/hubfs/personality.jpg?width=500&height=500&name=personality.jpg) Personality Assessment Veterinary Exam DiSC 5 Most Common Personality Assessments Personality assessments are tools that are used to measure an individual's personality traits, characteristics, and behavior. They are commonly used in a variety of fields such as career counseling, employee selection, and clinical psychology. There are many different personality assessments ... Posted by Brett Bingham on February 20, 2023 10:00 AM Read More](https://vetcomm.academy/blog/5-most-common-personality-assessments) ### [![](https://vetcomm.academy/hs-fs/hubfs/vet-tech-and-cat_0-1.jpg?width=500&height=500&name=vet-tech-and-cat_0-1.jpg) Veterinary Exam Veterinarian Skills Tips for Owning Your Exam Room The internet is an amazing tool. It provides us with valuable information when we want to learn about things like buying a car or planning a vacation. As veterinarians, it can help us develop competencies in core areas like communication training for your practice that 30 years ago would not have ... Posted by Brett Bingham on January 10, 2023 10:00 AM Read More](https://vetcomm.academy/blog/tips-for-owning-your-exam-room) [![vettcomm logo](https://vetcomm.academy/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-white.png?width=453&height=100&name=logo-white.png)](https://smithworks.marketing/hubspot-development) - [Home](https://vetcomm.academy) - [Free Webinar](https://vetcomm.academy/free-webinar) - [About VetComm Academy](https://vetcomm.academy/vetcomm-academy) - [About Dr. Bingham](https://vetcomm.academy/about-brett) - [Testimonials](https://vetcomm.academy/testimonials) - [Blog](https://vetcomm.academy/blog) © 2026 Vetcomm Academy · Powered by [Smithworks](https://smithworks.marketing). 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