Chicagoland SIA Blog

Posts about:

Agency Management (4)

How many hours are you working each week?

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.

Read More

Good records are a great risk management tool

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:

Read More

Documentation: An important risk management tool

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:

Read More

Is your agency providing top-notch customer service?

If you surveyed your customers, what would they say about your agency and the level of customer service you provide? Customer service is an important part of any business and plays a large role in creating loyal customers. An insurance agent who provides great customer service is much more likely to have loyal customers who purchase additional types of coverage and recommend him or her to other people. On the other hand, the effects of bad customer service can be significant. Here’s why:

Read More

How much time do you spend in front of screens?

It’s a fact: Spending a lot of time in front of screens is hard on your eyes. Yet research shows that Americans spend at least 50% of each day looking at screens — computers, smart phones, televisions, tablets and other electronic devices. How can you keep your eyes happy and healthy with all of this screen time? Here are some tips:

Read More

Are you providing your agents with guidance and support?

Feedback is critically important in any business because it helps employees identify areas in which they need to improve and to develop their skills. It’s especially important in the insurance business, where agents need guidance and support to succeed. Yet providing face-to-face feedback remains one of the most challenging aspects of managing other people.

Read More

Simple ways to beat Zoom fatigue

How many Zoom meetings do you participate in each week? Probably more than you used to. The use of Zoom and other video conferencing technology has skyrocketed during the global pandemic as a way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and as many businesses adapt to remote work. Unfortunately, all of those video calls can lead to “Zoom fatigue.”

Read More