Publisher's Synopsis
⦁How to develop one insurance agent training planWhen you're starting a new insurance agency, one of the final things you need to think about is training your staff. Even if you're not going to have any employees initially, there's still your own development to consider. First, determine who you are training and the objective of each course. Second, the kind of training that is necessary. Third, develop and execute an annual training plan to keep track of each employee's training goals. ⦁Who are your insurance sale agent training students and Why do they are this time training students. These students may include new staff and existing staff both kinds of students.A new hire not yet licensed will need education on the basic insurance principles. Plus, they'll need education on state specific insurance regulations. Most states require an agent to attend and pass a certified insurance course for each license they want. In some cases, a new hire may need multiple classes for certification in different areas of insurance. You will also need to train new hires on the standard procedures in your employee handbook.Existing StaffLicensed staff must stay informed of any changes in insurance regulations and policies. Most states require continuing education classes to renew a state insurance license. Many successful agencies also require their staff to obtain a specific insurance designation.⦁Ongoing DevelopmentThe ultimate goals for any agency are excellent customer service and gaining expertise in the field. Everyone in your agency will need ongoing development. This will include training on standard agency procedures like workflows. There's also the technology used in your agency and customer service. And, if someone wants to expand their knowledge in a new area, like marketing, that will also need to go into the plan. ⦁Training MethodsEmployee training is one of the most critical parts of the employee experience. When a new employee starts, they're a sponge, ready to absorb information about your company, your policies and procedures, and their role and responsibilities. Existing employees also need ongoing training to learn new skills, improve existing ones and continue to grow over time. But what's the best way to facilitate the training process?Technological advancements have revolutionised the training industry, giving managers more training method options than ever. Companies now have access to all kinds of digital tools like training videos and computer-based training, and can still leverage tried-and-true methods like traditional classroom training. Trainers also have to bear in mind the 3 key learning styles; visual (learning by seeing), auditory (learning by hearing) and Kinaesthetic (learning by doing) learning. But with so many different options, it's hard to know what's right for your company and employees.(1)MentorshipOne of the most successful approaches to training is a mentorship program. Ask some of your successful agents to mentor new agents and help them learn the business. This is also a great approach for new producers and customer service representatives.(2)Review Recorded CallsNo one enjoys listening to themselves on a phone call. But, it is a great way to help new agents with their client approach. It will help you determine if they need more training on insurance terms and policies. When reviewing calls with staff, listen to the call first. Then, review it with the employee. Give them advice on how to improve the customer experience. Help them with insurance processes they may not completely understand yet.(3)Continuing Education CoursesMost state insurance departments require agents to complete additional classes each year to maintain their license. Some states may mandate specific classes like ethics, flood, and errors and omissions. You may be able to choose other classes from an approved list of educational providers.
