Uphills Aren't Easy. Change in Veterinary Practice Isn’t Either.
Uphill is uncomfortable.
It’s slower than you hoped. Harder than you expected. And often lonelier than it should be.
In veterinary practice, uphill can look like trying to improve communication when everyone is exhausted, introducing new ways of working when the diary is already full, or being told, explicitly or quietly, that now isn’t the right time to change anything.
But uphill doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It usually means you’re doing something that matters.
In a recent interview with Jo and Suz from Human Behaviour Change for Life, we explored why change in veterinary teams can feel like pushing against gravity, and why that feeling isn’t a signal to stop, but a prompt to rethink how change is approached.
Why Change Feels So Hard
One of the strongest insights from our conversation was that most veterinary professionals already know what “good” looks like. They understand that over-working isn’t sustainable, that communication matters, and that team culture affects patient care.
The challenge isn’t a lack of knowledge; it’s that change is usually attempted on top of an already overloaded system. As the founders explained, teams are often seeking to do better, communicate more effectively, and be more resilient without any change in time, pressure, or expectations. Under those conditions, even the most well-intentioned initiatives feel like an uphill task.
The Myth of the Big Fix
Another recurring theme is the belief that change must be big, immediate, and perfect. In reality, this mindset often guarantees failure. Behaviour change rarely happens because of a great workshop or a new policy. It happens when small, repeatable actions are embedded into the messy, real-life routines of practice.
As Jo put it during our interview, sustainable change is possible when we understand the causes and drivers of the problem, and we break it down to make the solutions easy and attractive for people to do. Designing solutions that fit into existing routines, in ways that feel comfortable, can be repeated and avoid adding further burdens to those already stretched is vital. I was once advised by a very eminent vet to tackle problems like a sherpa climbs a hill or a mountain, taking tiny steps, as one by one you climb and you get where you want to be.
Starting Small
One of the most powerful takeaways from our conversation was the permission to start small, while it is tempting to take on the world, it is important to understand, test, learn, refine and then roll-out. Instead of trying to overhaul team communication, start with one conversation this week. Instead of trying to reduce burnout overnight, begin with a tiny change that makes tomorrow just a little easier.
Jo and Suz emphasised that humans are more likely to engage with change when it feels possible, not aspirational and out of reach. Small wins create momentum. Momentum creates belief. Belief creates capacity. That’s how uphill becomes climbable.
Change Happens Between People, Not Policies
Another key insight from our interview was the importance of psychological safety. No behaviour change tool works if people don’t feel safe to speak honestly, admit uncertainty, or try something new without judgment. Change is relational before it’s technical.
Veterinary teams don’t need more pressure; they need environments where curiosity is encouraged, mistakes are opportunities to positively grow and be supported, and learning is shared. When a safe, trusting culture is established that enables and encourages a growth mindset, the foundations for change start to be built, and change stops feeling like pushing or pulling to make things happen, and starts to feel energising and collaborative.
Uphill Is Where Meaningful Change Lives
Uphill will never disappear from veterinary life, and it shouldn’t. If something feels uphill, it’s usually because you’re challenging old habits, prioritising people, and trying to build something sustainable.
They have also reminded us that the goal isn’t to remove every uphill challenge, but to make the climb feel possible and shared. You don’t have to do it alone, rush to the top, or judge yourself for finding it tough. Every step forward is progress, and noticing the effort means you care about making meaningful change.
About Human Behaviour Change for Life
Jo and Suz from Human Behaviour Change for Life work with veterinary professionals and teams to make change realistic, humane, and sustainable. Grounded in behavioural science and real-world veterinary experience, they focus on small, practical shifts that actually stick, even in high-pressure environments.
Whether supporting individuals or whole teams, they help translate insight into action without adding to overwhelm.
👉 Learn more about Human Behaviour Change for Life and explore how they support veterinary teams via the link below.
Watch Jo and Suz’s session at Day 5: The Challenge Of Change