"I Didn't Know..."

When I first started leading Animal Medical Center a little over a year ago, I kept hearing the same phrase from our team:

"I didn't know."

At first, it was frustrating. It happened often enough that I found myself wondering why people weren't paying attention or staying informed.

But the more I reflected on it, the more I realized the issue wasn't with the team—it was with me.

As a leader, I wasn't communicating consistently enough to keep everyone informed about what was happening, what was changing, and what was coming next. The truth is, many of them genuinely didn't know because I hadn't created a reliable way to keep everyone on the same page.

So we made a change.

We implemented daily team huddles—short meetings that allow everyone to hear important updates, ask questions, and understand what's happening throughout the organization. Those few minutes each day have made a tremendous difference. Our team is more aligned, communication is stronger, and everyone is rowing in the same direction.

Clear communication doesn't just improve efficiency—it builds trust, creates alignment, and, as we discussed in last week's blog, it also helps eliminate gossip. When people know what's going on, there's less room for assumptions, speculation, and misunderstandings.

Good communication isn't just about sharing information. It's one of the most important ways a leader serves their team.

https://youtu.be/PLz5dJH4w18