Here are four key qualities that most good insurance agents have. If you have all (or most) of these traits, you’re more likely to be successful.
People Skills
This includes the ability to relate to your prospects or clients and work collaboratively to find common ground and a solution that is right for their problems (or insurance challenge). Be a good listener. Always put the interests of your clients above yourself. (You want to find the product or service that best matches their needs, not just focus on what offers you the greatest commission.)
Good customer service – after the sale – is equally important. If you keep your clients happy, they are more likely to renew their business with you.
Be consistent and persistent. If your follow-through is good, you’ll be rewarded by your clients with leads and referrals to others who can continue to fill your business pipeline for years to come.
Entrepreneurial Spirit
A career in health insurance sales is not just an opportunity to earn a great living. It’s a profession that gives you the freedom and flexibility to Be Your Own Boss, or BYOB. While the BYOB lifestyle may not be for everyone, it does offer many rewards. Your earning potential is virtually unlimited. If you’re driven and like the idea that the more you work, the more you earn, you can have a great lifestyle. Plus, you’ll be able to set your own schedule, work when it’s convenient for you, work where you want to, and have time for your family, friends, and life.
Best of all, at the end of the day, you can feel good about what you do because you’re helping others. Health insurance can be complicated, but it’s something people need. You can help them find coverage that’s right for their specific individual, family, or business needs . . . and their budget.
Energy and Personality
It’s important to be enthusiastic about what you do. Show your clients that you’re eager to help them at all times. If your energy is low, your prospects will know, and your lack of enthusiasm will undermine your sales efforts. You must be able to endure rejection – and do it with a smile. You’re not going to make every sell, but if you remain upbeat and positive, you are more likely to be given the opportunity to make a sale down the road – to the client who first said “no” or to his or her referral, who fondly remembers your efforts to help (even if no sale materialized).
Honesty
You would think that honesty wouldn’t need to be included here; however, it does bear mentioning because brokers who are dishonest in their dealings with clients, colleagues, and their business partners are not usually in business very long. Whether word-of-mouth undermines your sales career or your general agency or carrier cuts you off, when you’re dishonest, your long-term business prospects are not good. Telling the truth will help you win your clients’ respect – and their repeat business and referrals.
