According to a study conducted by Vertafore, 85% of insurance professionals would recommend a career in insurance. However, many of those surveyed also say the industry is stressful and were more conditional if they were recommending a job to a friend. Stress is commonly believed to have negative impacts on the mind, body and soul. Whether you are an insurance producer, agency team member, agency owner, or company representative, understanding what causes stress and how it can impact sales culture, both negatively and positively, can improve sales productivity. |

Is stress bad?

We most often hear about negative stress, known as distress. However, there also is positive stress, or eustress, that stems from excitement about an upcoming event or reaching a big goal. Agencies can create or leverage a culture that embraces this positive stress to improve performance amongst team members. The slideshow above illustrates 11 ways healthy stress can increase sales. Stress can have a positive impact on an insurance agency's culture and productivity. Being able to recognize stressors and separate negative from positive stress is just the beginning. Implementing the strategies outlined above will help guide your agency to increased sales and profits. Overcoming stress is essential for insurance agents and their co-workers. The American Insurance Marketing & Sales Society (AIMS) and Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CPIA) seminars guide agency owners, principals, and staff to overcome these types of hurdles and build plans to move forward positively. The AIMS Society offers programs and services that help insurance agents develop their marketing and sales expertise. To learn more about the AIMS Society, visit www.aimssociety.org. Also by the contributor: |

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