Over the past 8 years, I’ve spent time in more than 600 independent agencies as a consultant or vendor. Seventeen years of insurance production gave me a ton of experience, yet there’s still so much to figure out. Early in my career, the one thing that kept me interested in the business was the ability to learn every day.

Insurance agencies are like snowflakes, no two are alike. However, after spending lots of time with agency owners in hyper-growth mode, I learned that there are several traits they have in common. Below are five that stand out, and duplicating these tips can help your firm become a high-performing agency.

1. Culture: Top-performers have a culture that’s focused on production. When we talk about building a sales focused culture, people often assume that we’re dismissing the importance of great service. This is not the case. In fact, agencies with the best sales culture tend to have the best service teams as well. Keep in mind: You can’t flip a switch to create a world-class sales culture. It takes communication, training, charisma and an owner that’s laser-focused on their people, processes and tools. You’re slow to hire and quick to fire but top performers love working in your agency. Not only are they growing professionally and personally, they’re having fun doing it. You’re a leader not a manager and employees know that they have your support every day.