Conference Dilemma: How to Determine Which Insurance Trainings Are Worth Your Time
May 6, 2024
Kathe Kline and Joanna Wyckoff discuss the importance of carefully choosing which trainings to attend as insurance professionals. They emphasize the need to prioritize trainings that are relevant to an agent's current business needs and future goals, and stress the importance of balancing attendance with actual business productivity. They also share insights on the challenges of planning and attending conferences, and touch on the potential for hosting a cruise conference as a fun and educational event for their listeners. Throughout the conversation, they highlight the value of meaningful networking opportunities and practical takeaways from industry events.
Hosts Kathe Kline and Joanna Wyckoff provided valuable insights into the complexities of selecting and attending insurance training and conferences. From managing calendar commitments to understanding the relevance of different training sessions and the considerations involved in attending conferences, the hosts shared their expertise and experiences. Here's a breakdown of the key points discussed in the podcast episode.
Managing Calendar Commitments
The hosts emphasized the importance of effectively managing calendar commitments, especially for insurance professionals who receive numerous training invites. For Joanna, it was crucial to consider her fixed training schedules and the relevance of the training to her current business needs and the carriers she works with. This underscored the significance of aligning training opportunities with one's specific business goals and commitments.
Relevance and Pertinence of Training
Joanna highlighted the need for a careful assessment of the relevance and pertinence of the training content, emphasizing that newer agents, in particular, should focus on acquiring foundational knowledge before delving into more advanced training. This aligns with the idea that agents should crawl before they walk and walk before they run, reflecting the incremental learning process in the insurance industry.
Balancing Training and Client Engagement
The hosts also discussed the importance of striking a balance between training and client engagement. While training is essential for professional growth, it shouldn't come at the expense of engaging with clients. They emphasized the need to make time for implementing new learnings and engaging in client-focused activities post-training.
Strategic Conference Attendance
When it comes to attending conferences, the hosts provided strategic insights. Apart from prioritizing the relevance of these events to one's business needs, they discussed the significance of having a clear agenda for attendance and focusing on deriving genuine value from these gatherings.
Personal and Family Considerations
Joanna touched on the personal and family considerations when deciding on conference attendance, emphasizing the need to balance professional commitments with personal responsibilities. This illustrates the importance of evaluating how conference attendance aligns with the overall lifestyle and family needs of insurance professionals.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the podcast episode provided practical and valuable insights for insurance professionals, shedding light on the significance of strategic decision-making when it comes to training and conference attendance. By carefully evaluating training and conference opportunities, insurance professionals can optimize their professional development while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Managing Calendar Commitments
The hosts emphasized the importance of effectively managing calendar commitments, especially for insurance professionals who receive numerous training invites. For Joanna, it was crucial to consider her fixed training schedules and the relevance of the training to her current business needs and the carriers she works with. This underscored the significance of aligning training opportunities with one's specific business goals and commitments.
Relevance and Pertinence of Training
Joanna highlighted the need for a careful assessment of the relevance and pertinence of the training content, emphasizing that newer agents, in particular, should focus on acquiring foundational knowledge before delving into more advanced training. This aligns with the idea that agents should crawl before they walk and walk before they run, reflecting the incremental learning process in the insurance industry.
Balancing Training and Client Engagement
The hosts also discussed the importance of striking a balance between training and client engagement. While training is essential for professional growth, it shouldn't come at the expense of engaging with clients. They emphasized the need to make time for implementing new learnings and engaging in client-focused activities post-training.
Strategic Conference Attendance
When it comes to attending conferences, the hosts provided strategic insights. Apart from prioritizing the relevance of these events to one's business needs, they discussed the significance of having a clear agenda for attendance and focusing on deriving genuine value from these gatherings.
Personal and Family Considerations
Joanna touched on the personal and family considerations when deciding on conference attendance, emphasizing the need to balance professional commitments with personal responsibilities. This illustrates the importance of evaluating how conference attendance aligns with the overall lifestyle and family needs of insurance professionals.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the podcast episode provided practical and valuable insights for insurance professionals, shedding light on the significance of strategic decision-making when it comes to training and conference attendance. By carefully evaluating training and conference opportunities, insurance professionals can optimize their professional development while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Joanna Wyckoff from Topflightagent.com and Kathe Kline from CertifiedMedicareAgents.com talk about building a Medicare Insurance Agent business. (Use the code Babes2024 to get a free Bronze membership in the CertifiedMedicareAgent.com directory).