When you see a leader in your mind's eye, what do you see? Is it someone wearing a suit and barking orders? Is it a visionary who's leading a group of people in a revolution? Different people have different ideas of who a leader is, and styles of leadership must match the situation at your agency. When you create insurance jobs and develop insurance leaders, what kind of leaders do you need to cultivate at your insurance agency?
1. Visionary Leaders
Is it time for a shake up in your insurance agency? While visionary leaders may not always have an eye for detail, they excel in the way that they're able to articulate a vision and draw people in to follow this vision. If you want to turn your insurance company around or create a new brand, the visionary leader can help you do this. Visionary leaders also need a dose of transformational leadership and a lot of charisma to draw people into the vision. If you want to keep the status quo, a visionary leader might not be the right fit for your agency. When you need to make a change, draw in a visionary leader.
2. The Humble Builder
Many successful leaders are just the opposite of the charismatic leader, but they can be just as critical to an organization's development. Jim Collins, the author of Good to Great, states that "the animus and personal ambition that often drive people to positions of power stand at odds with the humility required for Level 5 leadership." He notes that leaders of great businesses are often humble and resolute. These leaders will seek to build your insurance business first, rather than stoking their egos.
3. Democratic Leaders
These leaders are exceptional at facilitation, encouraging participation, and getting people on board. They value employees' voices and help everyone in the business have a say. If you want to ensure that all voices are heard and that your new ideas can come from anywhere, develop your employees' and managers' potential for democratic leadership.
4. Emotional Leaders
According to a study in the Harvard Business Review, affiliative or emotional leaders create connections and generate harmony between employees at your company. This is the kind of person who walks into a room, senses a conflict, and helps staff work it out. If you have conflict in your workplace or you'd like to develop a more harmonious working environment, you need to have emotional leadership within your organization.
5. Coaching Leaders
Some leaders focus on building others skills and abilities. At your insurance agency, this can be a valuable type of leadership trait to have in a manager. This kind of leader can look at new hires or at existing employees in your insurance jobs and determine how to best develop their skills and coach this team in order to move your entire business forward. While coaches are often considered to be behind-the-scenes rather than at the front of the crowd, their leadership may not be obvious, but it's very valuable to your business.
At American Agents Alliance, we're leaders in our field, and our job is to support your business. As an independent insurance agency, you need the resources and networks that we provide. Contact us today and see how our Alliance Convention and membership benefits can help you grow your insurance business. 
