Remote work and the ever-evolving work environment are tricky regardless of your profession. While working “remotely” is nothing new for life insurance agents, they’ve historically been an “on-the-road” profession, and working virtually and from a home office is a newer concept for many in the field.
That’s why we’ve thrown together this list of 10 hacks you can use to navigate your journey while working remotely as a life insurance agent.
Whether it’s something specific to the business of life insurance or just a helpful habit to form for any remote worker, any one of these hacks is sure to help you adjust and streamline your processes.
#1: Batch similar tasks
First on the list is batching your tasks. It’s easy to create a routine and stick to it, but if you’re not already batching similar tasks throughout the day, it’s important to reevaluate your remote-work routine.
By categorizing your daily tasks, you can better set yourself up for a successful remote workday. Do you have a handful of calls to make throughout the day? Batch them for the quieter parts of your day when you can expect fewer interruptions.
#2: Level up your home office setup
Whether you’re working from home or in another remote office, making sure you have an environment suited for you is key. There are many adjustments you can make to ensure you have both the most ergonomic and comfortable workspace. Everyone is different, and finding the setup that allows you to feel most productive can be a learning process.
Do you typically get more calls and emails sent standing up or locked in sitting down? The shape and size of your desk should complement your work style. Do you get more done working in silence, or do you prefer a Spotify playlist to act as the soundtrack to your day? A good pair of headphones can go a long way either way.
Consider what makes you more productive and tailor your remote office to those needs. If your idea of a home office looks a lot like a cubicle give yourself the freedom to play around and find a more freeing work environment.
#3: Prioritize self-care
When you’re working remotely, you’re in charge of your schedule from clock-in to clock-out. Setting aside time for self-care is critical to the success of every other facet of your business.
Remember to take breaks. Staying refreshed can feel easier when it’s from the comfort of your home or remote office, but it’s easy to let time pass without spending quality time checking in with yourself. Keep regular breaks on the books to avoid burnout throughout the week.
Even more importantly, have a clear boundary between workspace and living space. Give yourself the distance needed to relax outside of seeing a screen you spent all day working on. If you have the space, consider having one room for remote work that should only be accessed during work hours.
Creating that boundary will help you decompress after stressful workdays and help you stay focused while you’re getting work done.
If you’re looking for more ways to practice self-care, don’t forget to read our blog on the subject!
#4: Block time for productivity
Create strong remote work habits by blocking time in your day to align with productivity. This will look different for everyone, but one example might be dedicating morning hours to high-focus tasks and afternoons for lighter work.
Allotting your time this way can help you stay motivated with bigger tasks at the start of the day and move on to lower-priority items as your energy wanes later in the day.
Once you’ve established the work blocks that align with your productivity, limit distractions during the heavier work blocks by turning off notifications and letting any team members know when you’re unavailable.
Similarly, giving yourself some “buffer time” in between meetings will allow you the space to recharge and avoid task overflow.
Last, check in with yourself periodically. Are the blocks you’ve put in place helping you become your most productive self? Adjust accordingly until your remote work schedule empowers you to make the most of your day without feeling burnt out.
#5: Leverage video calls to build trust
Selling life insurance remotely requires some adaptation, and video calls might be one of the biggest hurdles for seasoned agents. Going from face-to-face to dealing with a client base who has become accustomed to buying everything online can be a scary prospect for anyone who’s built a career in traditional life insurance sales.
Instead, embrace the change and leverage all the features of video calls. Unlike face-to-face client meetings, video calls allow you to meet with more clients in less time, but you can also add a branded touch to all your meetings.
Symmetry agents benefit from branded assets that they can leverage on their video calls. A Symmetry-branded virtual background (which can be found on HQ) can help keep the organization’s name in your client’s mind throughout the interaction. You can even create a custom URL for your Zoom invites to add an additional touch of authority to your calls before you even meet!
Make sure you’re leveraging all the bells and whistles that come with your virtual calls with clients.
#6: Switchboard Funnel
When it comes to remote work, the power of automation cannot be overstated. From nurturing leads to contacting existing clients, automating your daily tasks is a huge part of creating a successful remote work environment.
To that end, there’s no better automation tool than Switchboard Funnel. This sales enablement platform allows our agents to streamline client engagement through automated email and text campaigns while using data-driven insights to give them a larger impact in every interaction with their clients.
Beyond that, Switchboard Funnel allows you to incorporate dynamic scripting tailored using client information, seamlessly set sessions with clients using an integrated appointment scheduler and access a long list of training modules and support articles to get the most out of the platform.
Switchboard Funnel is a must-have addition to any remote life insurance agents’ toolbox.
#7: Pathfinder
Speaking of ground-breaking tech, Pathfinder is another must for remote life insurance agents. With Pathfinder, Symmetry agents can compare policies using an interactive, timeline-based calculator tool, highlight the effectiveness of any given policy and predict long-term gains for the client.
Seamlessly calculate fees and taxes using the policy’s performance and fit your clients with the exact coverage they need, all from the comfort of your remote office.
#8: PerformDash
Metrics are vital to the success of any remote worker, regardless of their field. For life insurance agents, metrics can be the difference between a successful year selling policies or months of spinning your wheels without understanding what to change.
PerformDash is the one-stop-shop performance dashboard for Symmetry agents and agency builders. There, agents can leverage analytics, lead health and track their progress through training and promotional levels.
Keeping a close finger on the pulse of your business is paramount to the success of life insurance agents working remotely. PerformDash gives Symmetry agents a thorough understanding of what is working and what is not in every facet of their workflow.
#9: Client education webinars
There is a long list of new opportunities available to life insurance agents after transitioning to remote work. A not-so-obvious one might be client education for your existing and potential clients.
By hosting client education webinars, you can build trust and generate leads with ease. Choose a topic like “planning for retirement” or “understanding term life policies” and invite any existing clients (or prospective) to join.
Promoting these events on social media or email will be necessary to grow your audience, but following up with attendees to address specific needs and creating new clients is the biggest benefit of holding these webinars.
Client education webinars existed before the switch to remote work, but they’re even more appealing today after life insurance sales have become mostly virtual.
#10: Optimize team communication
A specific hurdle for any agency builders starting remote is team communication. It’s important to keep regular check-ins with your team to easily spot and eliminate inefficiencies between team members.
Hold weekly virtual check-ins with your team to discuss goals, challenges and celebrate any wins over the last seven days. When it comes to individual team members, choose video calls for the more nuanced discussions and chat messages (or text) for any quick updates.
Knowing when a short message can replace a lengthy meeting is an important skill to master as you work on dedicated communications between you and your team.
Not sure if your check-ins are efficient? Asking for feedback is a great way to build trust with your team while spotting more places where a process or communication tool can be improved upon.
Work smarter. Build your career with Symmetry.
When it comes to working remotely, understanding how to find the path of least resistance is key. Hopefully, something on this list will help you adapt your business to the future of life insurance sales. Whether that’s creating a remote workspace you can call your own or leveraging all the tech available to Symmetry agents, use the hacks that work for you.
