ASP Retreat I

Since Retreat I, we have had four staff meetings and the word dentistry has yet to be mentioned! Very powerful meetings! Tears, hugs, the whole nine yards. This Wednesday, I hope to progress to writing our personal mission statements. I can tell that when dentistry is approached by the team, it will have a different angle. They have already, almost unconsciously, begun to see answers to questions through the prism of their closely held values. This path is more difficult than I had imagined. And, I'm not referring to how we practice dentistry. I feel like an ancient sailor who has sailed from port not really understanding what will happen, but sure of our direction!

Written the first year after taking the Applied Strategic Planning Series: Bob, the changes here are truly phenomenal! We are now in our beautiful new office, production and collection has risen over 50% and I swear we are not working as hard. I just stopped to listen the other day, and it is simply wonderful to hear and feel this new energy. People should be standing in line for this experience. Thank you my friend!

The Applied Strategic Planning process was extremely rewarding to me. The sessions helped me on the journey toward more effective leadership and caused me to realize that more growth is needed. You are to be commended for the excellent way that you worked with us, bringing out our best and correcting us when needed. You role modeled many valuable leadership skills. I learned how to better interact with others and express appreciation more often. I also gained considerable knowledge regarding the full scope of strategic planning, how to listen more effectively, and how to focus planning efforts into a coordinated plan. Your focus upon what is important in relation to God, family and relationships was most appropriate and contributes immeasurably to your success as a person and leader. Thank you again for your wonderful example of leadership. You have much to offer.

For me, the overall A.S.P. Series was a process that was long overdue for the USA Section. As I stated at Retreat II, this planning technique was entirely different from the others I was involved with. With our continued diligence, I have great faith that this will be of enormous benefit to the Section. In addition, it was a great learning experience for me personally. I believe this will make a difference to me in my practice and in the way I conduct my life.

My involvement in the Environmental Scan was most meaningful part from the retreats. Such work! However, what I learned about everything that will have an effect on the College, the profession of dentistry, and me personally was incredible. That and working with such an energetic, professional committee was a great reward.

For the College, this process set an agenda with a mission and goals for us to proceed in a productive and efficient manner. As we proceed, the Section should gradually strengthen and rise in prestige and influence. For me personally, it helped me to align and realign my life’s priorities. Professionally, it became a method of reexamining the way I conduct my practice and my professional goals.

The first retreat was a great intro to the ASP process and how it differed from other SP processes. It tied together the books we had read by Covey and Sinek, as well as the Organizational Health Survey and other resources you provided us to make sense of what we were going to do and to inspire us to exert the energy to get it done. The Values audit helped us define our core values and how to create a new Mission for the Section.

As we proceeded from the first retreat forward, it was exciting to take all our work and formulate a strategic business model, and then the integrated action plans to give us an actual roadmap and timetable for achieving our goals.

Thanks, Bob, for a wonderful life experience. I believe it will be valuable for the Section and for me personally.

We have come a long way since March! One of the greatest opportunities of this (Organizational Applied Strategic Planning) process was the chance to get to really know you and appreciate you in many different ways. We did a lot of work and there's more to do, but we should all be proud of what we have accomplished. Your participation was powerful and important. For that I acknowledge you on behalf of the Missouri Dental Association. Know that through your vision and thoughtfulness, you and other members of the committee have set a path for the MDA to follow for the next five years.

Thank you so much for the fabulous Applied Strategic Planning sessions for the International College of Dentists. I have attached the final report with the Integrated Action Plans (IAP's) that were approved by the Board of Regents last fall in San Francisco. We have updated the IAP's for our Executive review held in January; I could send you those if you wish. Please let me know too if you would also like a scanned electronic copy of the report.

It is an exciting thing to see the wheels moving forward...with a firm direction no less.

Thank  you for all the work you have done to assist us in seeing the path to becoming a better organization. It is very much appreciated.

I was impressed from the first moment you greeted us as we arrived after a day of travel ...I was impressed with your ability to translate your practical experience for the doctors and their teams ...One of the most significant benefits of thinking strategically is simplifying the process of determining goals, objectives and tactics. If a person learns nothing else from strategic thinking than how to ask the appropriate questions, they're on the right track. I believe the key selling point of Applied Strategic Planning is determining what is important and removing what isn't ...Bob, your passion for people and sharing wisdom is very inspiring ...meeting you and making a wonderful new friend has been a great experience for both of us.

Regarding "Attracting, Selecting, and Retaining High Achievers: A Hiring Program" November 25, 2012 Dear Bob and Angela, Sandy and I want to thank you for the enormous assistance you provided in helping us find an administrator for our Dermatology practice. Your formula to find an eagle to lead our office was a seasoned, systematic approach. It allowed us to identify and select a candidate that was a wonderful fit, taking into account technical abilities, aptitudes, experience and personality. During the process, we also learned a lot about ourselves, and as a result, how to better interface with this eagle. Working with you was also extremely enjoyable for us. Both of you were genuinely enthusiastic, friendly and fun to deal with during each step of the process. Our new administrator has now been with us for 3 months, which has given us time to assess her abilities and potential. We are very comfortable that you have helped us choose wisely, and that we selected an administrative leader who will help our practice grow and make our lives easier. We thank you very much for your committed, knowledgeable and kind help.

I wish we had been doing co-diagnosis 100 years sooner. I think what you've developed is a very powerful yet comfortable process. It really fits people into the practice where they want to be without violating their integrity. I am very grateful for the work you've done!