Insurance Industry Leadership: Taking Every Opportunity to Grow

Insurance industry leadership has a big year ahead of it.

We have made it through one of the most disruptive years I can remember, and hopefully we’ve learned a thing or two on how to effectively lead in less than ideal circumstances. Now is a time to reflect on how we all want to approach and grow business in 2021. 

Every experience is a learning experience

Every aspect of your life is an opportunity to learn and then apply that knowledge to insurance industry leadership. Statistically, you probably haven’t had the same job your entire life. You have done other things, had other experiences, had success in some endeavors—and have definitely failed at others. 

You have not always been a leader. You have received guidance. Try to remember what leadership and teaching strategies were effective to you and try to determine why they had an impact, then apply them to your own unique circumstances.

Figure out what differentiates you 

Take an account of your technical and intellectual resources. Determine where your strengths lie and approach the challenges that face your company from a sustainable position. The only way to achieve healthy organizational growth is through stability. 

Once you have settled on an insurance industry leadership strategy that suits your available talent, it is time to look at where your teams are lacking, where sourcing the right talent is essential to building those teams who are dynamic and innovative, capable of handling the most unexpected of problems. 

Establish rules and follow them

This one is pretty straight forward. If you’re about to make a decision that feels wrong, then it probably is. I think it’s imperative we set up lines we simply will not cross, codes that we live and work within. Insurance industry leadership, just like in any industry or organization, is about being consistent and fair to those you are leading by example.

Develop a leadership system

It is important everyone knows what is expected of them, that they know their role in the grand scheme of your company or organization and have a clear understanding of the ways they can contribute to your business’ overall success. 

When a team member knows where they fit and what they have to do to succeed in the eyes of insurance industry leadership, that individual contributor can set real and attainable goals and achieve a level of satisfaction and professional growth that comes with achieving them. 

A good system of leadership takes every action and turns it into an opportunity to succeed. 

Know when to laugh

You don’t always have to take yourself so seriously. You are a human being. Act like it. Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself or anything else for that matter. 

Knowing when to have fun … well, it’s just fun and doesn’t need much explanation. It is healthy, it makes you more approachable to your team members and, let’s be honest, we all spend a lot of time at work and all serious all the time can get pretty darn exhausting. 

Take your responsibilities and the people who rely on you seriously, but never be afraid to take a moment to relax.

The James Allen Companies is a full-service talent acquisition firm, focused and dedicated to finding and placing the very best in insurance industry leadership. We will help your business grow by finding those professionals ready and able to lead from the front, who will turn your organizational weaknesses into strengths.