The glass ceiling continues to be a reality in the insurance industry. Even the most well-intentioned agency owners and leaders who are focusing on increasing diversity are failing to empower women within their agencies. This translates into women continuing to be overlooked when it comes to opportunities to develop and be promoted into leadership positions.
How do agency leaders get past this and bridge the gender gap?
Examine Agency Culture –
Take time to make an honest assessment of agency culture. Does the environment in your agency promote gender equality? If not, where do the issues exist. A willingness to take a serious look at the culture that exists within your agency today is critical to understanding how you need to move forward. Are women and men treated equally? Or are women being marginalized? Give women in your organization an opportunity to speak candidly and get their perspective as to how they see gender equality within your agency.
Shift Your Mindset –
The truth is that men and women are distinctively different. The differences are not merely physical, men and women are physiologically different. Studies have shown that the brains of men and women are structured in unique ways. Setting a standard that requires women should behave, learn and lead more like men sets a standard for automatic failure.
Getting beyond the idea that all leaders (or future leaders) have the same qualities requires a mindset shift. Instead, consider a variety of attributes that make up an ideal leader. If you only have male leaders to model this list after, find opportunities to get the female perspective. Spend time with women in leadership roles and make note of those things that make them strong leaders.
Seek Out High-Achieving Women –
When you are looking to promote within your agency or develop future leaders, seek out women in the industry. Whether it’s women who are currently within your organization or other women in your network, reach out to them to discuss current and future leadership positions. If you have talented women within your agency that have potential to develop into leaders, take the time to have a conversation with them and encourage them. Often times, the first step is helping women in your agency see their potential and boosting their confidence. When they know have that support, they are more likely to take that first step into develop leadership skills or applying for a promotion.
Creating an environment that cultivates gender equality is not easy work. However, it is necessary to build the right culture in your agency. When this is done, employees feel cared for and you are positioned to develop and attract great talent.
For more insight on the benefits of bridging the gender gap, check out this great article: Closing the Gender Gap is Good for Business
About the Author
Justin Goodman has spent the past 20 years in insurance. He is the co-founder and CEO of Total CSR and co-founder and Managing Director of Project 55. By the age of 29, he was recognized as one of the top five construction insurance experts nationwide by Risk and Insurance Magazine. He also was named to Insurance Business Magazine’s Hot 100 and most recently the 2024 Insurance Journal Agent of the Year. Justin has trained over 50,000 CSR’s, account managers and producers through his work at Total CSR. He has a passion for developing the next generation of insurance professionals. When not with his family, he devotes his free time to speaking engagements and advising agency owners across the country.
