Our shared path to greater

diversity, equity, and inclusion

Group of veterinary healthcare workers with digital tablet meeting in a veterinary hospital

Journey For Teams

Educational Sharpenings

15-minute interactive experiences allow teams and individuals to explore, discuss and develop communication skills.

What is an Educational Sharpening?

Educational Sharpenings are interactive communication tools designed to refine skills that both individual and veterinary team members rely on daily. Effective communication, teamwork, and conflict management require continual honing.

Objectives

Sharpening the skills presented in this series will help to:

  • foster collaboration
  • bridge communication gaps
  • improve workplace culture
  • navigate differences constructively
  • strengthen individual and team effectiveness

How to Use

Each Educational Sharpening is a combination of an Interactive Module and a downloadable Summary and Exercise Sheet. Start by completing the Interactive Module using the buttons below.

Interactive Module

In between informative animations, interactive questions pause the presentation and ask you to think about what you have just learned. When you have answered the interactive questions, use the forward arrow at the bottom right of the viewer to move to the next page.

TIP! If the animation is moving too fast, you can slow down the action and audio using the speed button at the bottom left of the player.

Summary and Exercise Sheet

After viewing the Interactive Module, return to this page to download the Summary and Exercise Sheet.

You can use Educational Sharpenings as an individual or as a team. If completing as a group, watch the video segments together and discuss your answers to the interactive questions and exercises.

Journey for Teams

Educational Sharpenings

  • Self-Awareness

    Self-awareness is the ability to see ourselves clearly. Increasing your objective understanding of yourself makes it possible for you to know how others perceive you.

    Complete online
  • Reducing Emotional Reactivity

    During challenging interactions, we may experience feelings of stress, anger, fear, disappointment, frustration, or anxiety. We may enter a state of fight-or-flight where we are more likely to react impulsively and emotionally. We refer to this as emotional reactivity.

    Complete online
  • Perspective-Taking

    Perspective-taking is the ability to understand and consider the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of others. Perspective taking builds connections, promotes empathy and encourages open-mindedness.

    Complete online
  • What to do when you say the wrong thing

    When it comes to participating in the work of creating more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces, many of us fear the consequences of saying the wrong thing. It turns out that the best way to prepare for mistakes is by knowing that you will make them! Create a strategy for how you will deal with uncomfortable situations to keep learning and growing.

    Complete online
  • How to be an Upstander

    Upstanders play a crucial role in creating a safer and more inclusive environment. When individuals stand up against wrongdoing, they send a message that harmful behaviors are unacceptable.

    Complete online

Have a question?

We know you’re busy, so thank you for taking a moment to help improve Journey for Teams. If you have any additional feedback you’d like to share, please email us at JourneyForTeams@AVMA.org.