Running a successful independent insurance agency is not a walk in the park. A lot goes into making things happen the way you want them to, getting the results you expect. Internal logistics are one of the things most independent insurance agency owners wish they could run away from so they could focus on selling insurance, but to give your clients the best quality service they can get, you need to have things under control internally.
Everything matters, from the most simple things like having office supplies, to having solid processes in place. Here are some tips to help you manage your agency's logistics.
Leading an agency doesn't mean that you have to do everything yourself. It's about defining a strategy that helps you keep things organized, and most of the time, that means you'll need some help. Delegate some tasks to your employees. For example, you could have someone in charge of coordinating office cleaning while someone else can be responsible for supplies. Divide and conquer.
Specific responsibilities are better off left in the hands of professionals. Taxes and accounting will undoubtedly require the attention of a professional in that area, and since it's an on-going task, you'll want to hire someone as a permanent resource. For other jobs, like planning events, you could consider having someone external help you out.
To operate successfully, you need everyone to be on the same page, and the only way you can do that is by defining your processes and procedures and sharing them with your staff. Understand what your process inputs and outputs are, outline your process steps and establish standards. That will help you align your practices to your agency goals and ensure that everyone works towards achieving them. This will make a significant impact on your agency's efficiency.
Once you decide to start your own independent insurance agency, investing your time and effort into making things run smoothly, can take your business to new heights. Are you ready to take the first step into running your own business? Join AAI today.