Creating Meaningful Change Through Deep Listening: VetLed at VHFL 2026

Change within veterinary practice starts with people. Our current status (whether or not we’re where we want to be as a team, and the areas where there’s room for improvement) is apparent in the conversations we have, the assumptions we make, the way we respond to one another on busy days, and the way we rebuild trust when things go wrong. And if there’s one skill that sits right at the heart of all of this, it’s listening.

But isn’t listening easy?

How often do you find yourself nodding along to someone or really trying to listen to what they’re saying, only to find you can’t recall much at all from the conversation when it’s over?

Listen isn’t as easy as you might think.

That’s why I’m so excited about the workshop VetLed are delivering at Veterinary Human Factors Live 2026, our collaborative event with our friends at Vet Empowered. Dan Tipney and Jess Woolrich will be leading a highly interactive session exploring the art of deep listening as the foundation of human connection. This isn’t just about being polite or nodding along; it’s about strengthening trust, understanding, and collaboration so that meaningful change becomes possible for teams, practices, and ultimately, the people and the patients they treat everyday.

Why deep listening matters

If you’ve worked in more than one practice, you’ll know how different teams can feel. Even when the clinical work is similar, there are other factors that can make the experiences very different. A lot of that comes down to how we communicate and how we understand one another. But listening is one of those things we all assume we’re doing… until we stop and realise how often we’re actually preparing our response, filtering what we hear, or reacting from habit.

Deep listening asks something different of us. It asks us to slow down enough to really hear the person in front of us and their needs, concerns, hopes, and intentions. When we do that, we meet a fundamental human need for connection, being heard, and being understood. After all, when people feel understood, everything else becomes easier: working together, problem solving, learning from mistakes, and navigating change.

What to expect from the session

Dan and Jess have created a workshop that blends practical exercises, guided discussions, and clear explanations. It’s hands on, reflective, and relevant to real practice life but realistic enough to be practical. They’ll be drawing from a range of fields, including:

• Nonviolent Communication (NVC)

• Deep listening principles

• Neuroscience

• Team psychology

Together, these approaches help us understand not just how we listen, but also why we listen the way we do and what gets in the way of effective listening.

They’ll explore:

• The habitual ways we tend to listen, and how our conditioned responses can limit connection.

• The challenges that make effective listening difficult, especially in busy veterinary environments.

• The role of perception and why our intent matters more than we realise.

• How listening meets core human needs and supports psychological safety.

• The relationship between connection and team performance.

Expect to leave with new insight, new tools, and a renewed appreciation for the impact listening can have on your team and your practice!

Why this matters for our profession

We talk a lot about culture, wellbeing, and communication in veterinary practice. But meaningful change doesn’t come from posters on the wall or policies in a handbook. It comes from the people, and how we show up for one another, especially on the harder days.

Deep listening is one of the simplest and most powerful ways we can start to shift our culture. When we listen with intent to understand, we create space for honesty, learning, and connection. And that’s where real change begins.

I can’t wait for this session — and I genuinely believe it has the potential to shift how we work together in practice. If you’re curious about how listening can transform your team, this is one not to miss.

Book your ticket and find out more at https://vetled.thinkific.com/courses/vhfl2026

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