An Education Beyond Competency

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Many years ago, these were the words of my former president, the late Nelson Mandela.

As a young girl growing up in South Africa, these words inspired me to do better at school. To study harder at university. And, throughout my career, I’ve always carried these words with me when I take on courses for my own professional development. They are as true today as they were then, and it’s a concept that can be applied to even the smallest of things, like learning how to cook better for your family. You may not change the whole world with that delicious dish, but you’re making a big difference in your loved ones’ world.

So too, I believe, do you make a difference in the lives of each one of your customers every time you take a continued education course.

Your professional development goes beyond proving your competency and keeping your broker license. It goes beyond even keeping up to date with industry developments, or stretching yourself to gain new expertise and skills. As much as it’s about developing you, it’s about better serving your customers. And in today’s competitive environment, retaining customers through great service is more valuable to a broker’s survival than ever, as Michael McKiernan writes.

In putting together our Big Education issue this month, we wanted to offer you the best topical content, with educational tools and tips from experts both within and outside the industry, to help enhance your customer service and better manage your practice.

Marketing remains an issue many brokers struggle to get their heads around, whether it’s traditional, online, or social. In Terri Goveia’s “Marketing Masterclass”, we look to renowned marketing gurus for helpful do’s and don’ts: because marketing your brokerage shouldn’t be rocket science.

Carving out a niche market strategy may not be as easy as selling candy to a child, but those in the know say it may be the key to survival for many a broker. In Martha Porado’s candid interviews, we learn from three specialist brokers how it’s done.

Last month, three new insurance CEOs told us that talent is one of the top concerns for brokers in both personal and commercial lines. Brooke Smith delves into how you can overcome the big talent crunch, from recruiting millennials and digital skills, to retaining staff and succession planning.

It’s a jam-packed issue, and an exciting time for brokers who invest in their professional development.

Happy reading, and learning!

__________________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2017 Transcontinental Media G.P. This article first appeared in the May 2017 edition of Canadian Insurance Top Broker magazine

This story was originally published by Canadian Insurance Top Broker.