Make Deposits in People’s Emotional Bank Account

Captain Thomas Berchtold references Stephen Covey's idea of investing in people's emotional bank account and provides several examples about how he focuses on the people on his team  to build a strong servant leader minded community. He points out that it is far better to postpone important conversations with people until you can give them your full attention or risk missing the mark and even creating an atmosphere of distrust. He shares a time when he failed as a leader because he wasn't being authentic and uses it to emphasize the need for each person to be true to themselves and use their strengths in their leadership opportunities. He looks for chances to help others along their path and provide them with recommendations that will help advance their journey and highlights the importance of having open and honest conversations early and often. 

Captain Thomas E. Berchtold hails from Brigham City, Utah and attended Utah State University. He was commissioned as an Ensign, United States Navy through the Health Professions Scholarship Program and he attended Virginia Commonwealth University where he graduated magna cum laude and earned his D.D.S. 

After graduation from dental school he attended an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency in Jacksonville, Florida. After being in Florida 1 year, he was transferred to Port Hueneme, CA to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Three (Seabees) for a tour as Dental Department Head.  The battalion had a six-month deployment to Guam during this time where he successfully led the dental department with multiple battalion detachments being all over the world from the main body of personnel. Upon completing his tour with the Seabees, he was transferred to Naval Medical Center San Diego.  While in San Diego, his main duty was the division officer for the dental department at the Naval Submarine Base at Point Loma.

He attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry in the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics for three years of advanced training.  There he served as the Chief Resident for the Department during his last year of residency.  He received a Masters Degree in Clinical Dentistry as well as a Certificate in Orthodontics.

After residency, CAPT Berchtold was stationed at 13 area dental clinic at Naval Dental Center Camp Pendleton (NDC CPEN).  He set up the inaugural orthodontic practice at Camp Pendleton and served as the orthodontic department head. He was then assigned to Naval Base San Diego Branch Health Clinic.  He was chosen as the assistant department head at Naval Base San Diego Branch Health and Dental Clinic.  His next orders were at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton where he was selected and served as the Director of Dental Services and served on the board of directors for the hospital until his transfer to Naval Hospital Yokosuka. 

At Naval Hospital Yokosuka, he was appointed as Associate Director for Dental Services, the Dental Corp Career Development Board manager as well as working as a staff orthodontist.  He received his board certification from the American Board of Orthodontics during this time.

From Japan, he was stationed at the Naval Medical Readiness Command San Diego as a member of the craniofacial team for the hospital and worked as an orthodontist to supplement the surgical treatment of patients for the oral surgery residency program.  

Dr. Berchtold has been married to Julie Berchtold for 25 years and has four children.  Miranda, Jentry, Tate and Riley.  His oldest is married and will attend graduate school this summer and his youngest is still in elementary school.  He enjoys road bicycling, golfing, swimming, fitness, and eating good food and a little well known fact is that he has completed 5 half iron man triathlons and 3 marathons. 

Resources: 

Global Servant Leadership: Wisdom, Love, and Legitimate Power in the Age of Chaos - Philip Mathew, Jiying Song, Shann Ray Ferch, & Larry Spears https://books.google.com.mx/books?hl=es&lr=&id=ATQGEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=global+servant+leadership&ots=JvavIOHVQR&sig=JG6qdV4hOBhdTAiNYOEjBXofs6o&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=global%20servant%20leadership&f=false

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey https://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People-Powerful/dp/1982137274/ref=sr_1_1?crid=XZWQQGHJJ3F6&keywords=seven+habits+of+highly+effective+people&qid=1644205239&s=books&sprefix=seven+has%2Cstripbooks%2C191&sr=1-1

Start With Why - Simon Sinek https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ss78LfY3nE