Do You Have an Agency Training Plan?

Most of us remember the last time we started a new job. The training process can often feel like “drinking from a fire hose” because of all the information thrown at us right off the bat. But most of us would also agree that everything we ever learned about how to do our jobs didn’t happen in the first few weeks. Roles change, technology and processes change, team members change, and over the course of our tenure at a job we are constantly learning so we can adapt to all the changes.  

So it stands to reason that training should not be a one-off thing. At an insurance agency, employees must stay on top of market developments and have additional training and refresher courses to stay ahead of the competition. Investing in ongoing education and training will also make your agency a great place to work and will lead to positive business outcomes. When employees are well educated about your agency processes and feel confident in what they’re doing, they can keep their focus on individual targets and company goals.

No matter the size of your agency, your training plan should include information for both new and existing employees and should detail all of the various processes you have in place, as well as the various programs, technology and tools that you utilize that employees should be well versed in. Examples of items that should be addressed include:

• Agency management system
• Reporting platforms
• Data collection processes
• Vendor websites
• Daily agency procedures
• The customer journey
• Third party systems or support tools

Review your training plan at least once a year, and possibly more frequently depending on changes your agency might be undergoing. Expect to adjust that plan as changes happen and invest the time in the educational process so that you can set your employees up for success.  

Julie Loney
SVP, Education
Assurex Global