Chicagoland SIA Blog

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.

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:

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:

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:

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:

Did you know that cybercrime has now surpassed illegal drug trafficking as a criminal moneymaker? It’s true. That’s why it’s critical to know how to protect yourself while you’re using your computer, on and offline. Here are some important tips designed to keep you and your data safe:

In the insurance business, there are a lot of things you don’t have control over — market conditions, what your competitors are doing and the economy, for example. But you do have control over what type of working environment you can offer your agency’s employees.

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.