408 - Empowered or Overstepping? Helping Techs Make Better Decisions

Empowering Tech Decision-Making Without Creating LiabilityHost Maria Pirita welcomes Ron Sosa on the Uncharted Veterinary podcast to tackle a mailbag question about empowering technicians to make decisions without crossing into doctor-only territory or creating liability. They discuss how teams may be unintentionally disempowered, how psychological safety and confidence building affect decision-making, and why practices often lack clearly defined boundaries between medical advice and general knowledge. They highlight the importance of understanding the “why” behind recommendations, differences in education between technicians and assistants, and how inconsistent veterinarian preferences can create confusion. Action steps include defining protocols and autonomy within them, gathering input through departmental meetings, using role play to build skills, praising good decisions, coaching with accountability, and using tools like chart audits and AI scribes to capture objective data for targeted coaching.Ron Sosa is the Executive Director of Uncharted Veterinary Conference, a published author, international speaker, and veterinary leader with more than 20 years of experience in operations, practice management, leadership development, and consulting. From client service representative to business partner to industry educator, Ron has built a career around helping veterinary professionals create healthier teams and more sustainable workplaces. As the founder of Syn APT Neuroinclusive Leadership, he is especially passionate about neuroinclusive leadership, workplace culture, burnout prevention, and helping people thrive at work.Maria Pirita is a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager, Elite Fear Free Certified Veterinary Professional and former hospital administrator. In her work with Uncharted Veterinary Conference and beyond, Maria has presented to veterinarians and teams across the US and Canada on topics including veterinary marketing, feedback, team building, and positive work culture. With over 10 years of experience in veterinary medicine and over 20 years in leadership, she's passionate helping leaders develop their skills. Maria loves any activity that involves creativity or learning something new. This leads to an abundance of hobbies including crafting, traveling, cooking and aviation.Mentioned in this episode:Join us for the Medical Director Summit!Get the Protocol Training Game Here!Care is Your Calling