Chicagoland SIA Blog

Think you don’t have time to exercise? Think again! If you want to be more productive, whether at home or at work, then you may want to make time each day to exercise. Studies show that regular exercise can help boost productivity while a sedentary lifestyle can make people less productive in all areas of their lives. A Harvard study also linked regular exercise to a host of other benefits, including sharper memory, greater creativity and quicker learning!

You know that meeting and networking with new people can help you grow your company. And in a day and age where we can connect online and in-person with virtually anyone, the possibilities to make important connections are endless. Are you effectively growing and leveraging your business network? Here are five great ways to use networking as a business development tool:

We all want to be more efficient, right? Yet research shows that many of us are going about it the wrong way. Here are some ways that research suggests can help us be more efficient at the office.

“That smile looks good on you!” The well-known expression has more truth to it than most people may realize. A 2021 post from Verywell Mind lists nearly a dozen reasons to smile every day. These benefits include longer life, relieving stress and creating a more upbeat mood. In addition, it makes people feel good when we flash a nice, beautiful smile. When you smile around people, they will often smile back, or make some pleasant eye contact. Smiling, at its essence, conveys happiness. And we all need that.

What do Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, Warren Buffet and Mark Zuckerberg have in common? They are all successful introverts. It’s estimated that one-third to one-half of the world’s population is comprised of people you would describe as “reserved or shy.” Yet research shows that many leaders have difficulty effectively managing and leading more inner-oriented employees. Here are four ways to adapt your management style to bring out the best in your agency’s introverted employees:

Did you know that from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year, thousands of teens are injured or killed in driving accidents nationwide? That’s why this time period is called the ’100 deadliest days’ for teen drivers.

It’s estimated that one in 20 insured homeowners nationwide makes a claim each year. The most common reason? Weather. Damage from the elements — wind, hail, rain and snow — is the most common reason homeowners file claims. Fire-related claims are less common, but are the most costly. Here are the most common types of losses incurred by homeowners, according to the Insurance Information Institute:

Do you often come into work early, leave late or work in the evenings and/or on weekends? You’re not alone. Americans on average spend 47 hours a week at work, more than any other industrialized country. Americans work 137 more hours per year than Japanese workers, 260 more hours per year than British workers, and 499 more hours per year than French workers! Four in 10 Americans said they work more than 50 hours every week, with two in 10 working more than 60 hours each week.

In today’s litigious society, keeping good records of your work as an insurance agent is important. Consistently and accurately documenting discussions with your clients — and actions taken as a result of those discussions — may not eliminate your risk of an errors and omissions claim or guarantee your success should you face one. But it can both reduce your risk of a claim and aid in your defense in the event of an E&O claim. Here are some important steps to consider in your office:

How well do you document your agency’s interactions with customers? Consistently documenting discussions with your clients is an important risk management tool in today’s litigious society. It won’t eliminate your risk of an errors and omissions claim or guarantee your success should you face one, but it can reduce your risk and could help to substantially bolster your defense in the event of an E&O claim. Here are some important procedures to consider in your office: