Independent insurance agents spend much of their time (approximately 60%) working on administrative tasks and processes. While these tasks are important, they also take time away from what matters – serving clients, following up on business opportunities, and closing sales.
Learning how to manage your time and streamline your business will help you take things to the next level. This is one of the most important keys to an insurance agent’s success.
Time Management Hacks for Insurance Agents
The following five tips will help you improve efficiency and get the most out of each day.
1. Track Your Time
A day in the life of an insurance agent can get pretty hectic. If you’re like most dynamic agents, you may find that you worked a full day and have no idea where the time went.
Tracking the tasks you perform and how long they take is one of the best ways to identify areas for improvement. For example, how much time do you spend each day checking emails, handling customer requests, dealing with administrative work, or sitting in meetings? Try using a time tracking app or a pen and paper for a few weeks, and you may be surprised by what you find.
2. Plan out Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Tasks
Having a big-picture plan can help you focus on important tasks. Start each month by creating a short list of the top things you want to achieve, then break that down into the milestones for each week. Finally, use this list to identify the top two or three things you need to do daily to progress towards those goals.
Your goals will be unique for your business and may vary at different times of the year. Some common examples include contacting a certain number of potential borrowers, growing your book of business by a certain percentage, or writing a set number of policies. In some months, you may focus on developing a specific line of business or taking steps to diversify your book.
No matter your goals, it’s important to be realistic as you create your lists. If you’re always overcommitting, you’ll end each day feeling disappointed, even if you’re making great progress.
3. Focus on One Thing at a Time
It’s a common misconception that multitasking helps us get more done. The truth is, you’re wasting time refocusing whenever you switch to a new task. Instead, try performing one thing at a time, then take a quick break to refresh your mind before moving on to the next task.
Also, take steps to eliminate distractions. This may mean temporarily putting your phone on silent, closing your office door, and avoiding the temptation to check your email repeatedly. Once you begin focusing your attention, you’ll be surprised by how much more you can get done in a shorter amount of time.
4. Automate Tasks
As you grow your book of business, keeping up with manual tasks can start to feel overwhelming. The good news is that some of the tasks bogging you down are probably entirely unnecessary. One of the best moves you can make is to find an ally who understands your business and can help you create a digital transformation strategy.
The partner you choose may also be able to help you find ways to automate steps in your process, such as data entry, email marketing, social media posting, and other simple tasks.
5. Aggregate Your Information
Tracking your workflows and keeping up with your clients’ information is critical to your business, but constantly switching from one system to another can be a huge time waster. Investing in a system that aggregates your information will make you more efficient. This also makes improving customer service, identifying opportunities, and closing more deals easier.
Moving Forward with Claro
Claro’s Agent Resource Center provides various tools and resources designed to help independent insurance agents enhance their knowledge and advance their business. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you on your path to success.
With Claro, Greatness is insured… We create innovative, reliable, and efficient tools to facilitate your journey towards your goals, find new opportunities, and expand your business. Get a DEMO growth consulting here: https://bit.ly/3Bk0hHi
