In this episode of The Business of Practice podcast, Christine Staten, DVM, MBA, talked about the importance of delegating for veterinarians.
Small practice owners wear many hats, and their workload can be overwhelming. Despite this, many veterinarians resist delegating tasks to others. Even associates sometimes struggle to accept help. Staten explained that because veterinarians often feel the need to be in control, they have trouble letting go. They might consider the risks associated with inadequate teaching and training of support staff and worry about handing tasks off to others.
“We can’t do everything,” she said. “We become the bottleneck in our practice, and we burn out.” She recommended first outsourcing the tasks that other professionals can do better, such as payroll and landscaping. This differs slightly from delegating, which is when you give tasks to your employees, she explained.
Data show that delegation increases revenue, profit, and employee satisfaction. Once you begin delegating, you can start creating systems and SOPs (standard operating procedures). These allow new employees to feel accomplished and competent as they perform tasks by learning through videos and written manuals.
One of the most troublesome obstacles to successful delegation is when the boss micromanages, Staten shared. Instead, she recommended having a desired outcome, and then allowing the team member to achieve the result by whatever path they choose, with periodic check-ins to ensure the work will be timely and complete.
In closing, Staten said, “You find the thing you want off your plate the most,” and that’s what you delegate first. Consider what tasks you like doing the least, or what takes most of your time, and use this insight to decide what to pass on to someone else.
About Dr. Christine Staten
Christine Staten, DVM, MBA, earned her veterinary degree from Colorado State University in 1999 and her Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University in 2023. She is a large animal veterinarian, the owner of a mixed-animal practice with two locations, and a practice consultant. She is dedicated to nurturing the next generation through mentorship programs for veterinary students and new graduates, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the veterinary field.
If you’d like to learn more about Staten’s thoughts on delegation, please reference her presentation from the 2025 AAEP Convention in Denver.
Related Reading
- The Business of Practice: Performance-Based Compensation
- How to Institute Performance-Based Compensation in Your Equine Practice
- Business Briefs: Implementing Lasting Change in Your Practice
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