Plan for a seamless transition

Q. I've just been promoted to practice manager. How can I make sure I'm successful?

Start with a clear job description and support from the practice owner, says Michelle Guercio, CVT, CVPM, the hospital administrator at Animal Care Center of Pasco County in New Port Richey, Fla. "Without that, the transition will start off shaky and consequently, the new manager will be uncomfortable discovering the boundaries of the position."

Michelle Guercio

The job description should answer questions like what issues team members will consult the practice manager for and who will be the final decision-maker. "If you work out these details up front, you begin the position with more confidence, and the team has more confidence in you," she says.