Jim Schubert

is the CEO of Southern States Insurance, one of Georgia's largest independent insurance agencies. He is a nationally recognized author and podcast guest contributor appearing in Insurance Journal, Independent Agent Magazine, Insurance Business America Magazine, Best's Review and Applied Systems.

Jim is a passionate advocate for small business owners, entrepreneurs and independent insurance agents. He loves sharing ideas about agency growth, digital marketing, and the lost art of human interaction.

Jim is also the creator of Agents Growth Academy, an online resource for insurance agents and agency owners who want to take their growth to the next level. And when he needs to take a clarity break, he is either behind a camera lens in the great outdoors or teaching aspiring shutterbugs how to take beautiful nature photography at Schubert Photography.

How to Make Working From Home Actually Work for Your Company

Almost 75 % of our staff worked from home during the pandemic, 40% of which still do today without slowing productivity. A lot went into that statistic behind the scenes. So today on Agents Growth Academy, host Jim Schubert will share how to make working from home actually work, starting with the “why” and following through with systems of accountability.

Everyone should have at least one number they're responsible for. Even your receptionist.

3 Key Takeaways

Become 100% clear on your company’s vision before asking yourself if you should allow remote work. That way, you can ask if it aligns with that vision.
Remote work is hard to undo, but some of the remote workers Jim has hired are qualified, legacy employees. Don’t rule out this option without looking into it.
Your accountability measurables need to be conducted at a regular pace, whether that’s employee feedback loops or responsibility chart check-ins.

Listen To The Full Episode Below

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Episode Show Notes

[1:10] Jim introduces you to ePayPolicy, the simplest way for insurance agents to collect payments

[2:20] The first way to make working from home work is to ask yourself why you should do it

[4:40] Number two: create systems of accountability

[6:22] Create an accountability chart, which is different from an organization chart

Have a regular pace of reviewing measurables

Have a regular pace of employee feedback loops

[9:25] Develop a remote work agreement that addresses several things including policies and procedures

[13:20] Number four of how to make remote work actually work: set expectations about a distraction free work environment and enforce them!

[17:34] It’s easy to get into your own groove; care for your remote workers

[20:55] Know that once you run down that road, remote working is hard to undo

[24:30] Reach out to Jim with your questions about remote work

[26:20] Jim recaps the major actionable steps from this episode

Resources

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Agents Growth Academy Partners

Created by insurance experts for the insurance industry, ePayPolicy provides the simplest solution for insurance agents, carriers, brokers, MGAs, and premium finance companies to collect credit card and ACH payments.

Your Marble Box service team are trained insurance professionals. That means they do more than schedule meetings, manage inboxes, and send auto-responders to incoming emails. They can literally do ANY process you need between customer interactions, so you can serve your customers better.

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