CEO COLUMN
Fear is not an option
New York Times Best-Selling Author Steven Johnson who penned the book , Where Good Ideas Come From , wrote , “ If you look at history , innovation doesn ’ t come from giving people incentives ; it comes from creating environments where ideas can connect .”
Hope is not a strategy
As leaders , we need to alter people ’ s environment in order to move away from “ Zoom group think .”
After a life altering 2020 , most companies know they need to carry on and hope for a swift return to normal . Some companies have opted , or are considering , to exit the channel . Others have no choice but to innovate .
There ’ s nothing easy about innovation , in fact , it can be a circus . There ’ s never a replicating , predictable pattern , so data results are not accurate . Now , enter the Delta variant to the mix , and many are resorting back to “ hope ” instead of pushing forward .
Per James Cameron , “ Hope is not a strategy . Luck is not a factor . Fear is not an option .”
Time to get creative
Dan LaBert , CEO NAILBA DLaBert @ nailba . org
As an industry , we must continue to rapidly deploy new approaches and strategies . Visionary leaders know the solution to these challenging times is creating environments for people to share new ideas . Innovation occurs when people can ask questions , spitball the details , feel their freedom , and be empowered with decision making .
The pandemic has forced our industry , a type A sales culture , to “ go back to a desk – thinking , working , and behaving differently to deliver the same results or more .” People do their best thinking on the move , working out , in the shower or decompressing after collecting a stack of business cards from an in-person meeting , client visit , or industry conference . As leaders , we need to alter people ’ s environment in order to move away from “ Zoom group think .”
Einstein captured the essence of innovation perfectly when he said , “ Innovation is not the product of logical thought , although the result is tied to logical structure .” Everything I described regarding creating environments where ideas can connect defines NAILBA innovation , it defines the NAILBA Annual Meeting . If you are seeking “ insurance innovation ,” there ’ s no better environment . Call it “ Hallway Magic !” The NAILBA Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of independent life brokerage agencies . From member agency principals and staff , to insurance and financial carrier executives , and senior leadership teams from more than 100 + sponsors and exhibitors who provide BGA technologies and services , NAILBA ’ s Annual Meeting is where the brokerage industry meets . It is where relationships are built . It is where business gets done ( i . e . logical structure ).
Opportunity to gather
4 Perspectives Q3 2021
My old boss once told me , “ Never miss a meeting if you think there ’ s the slightest chance you ’ ll wish you ’ d been there .” There ’ s no wishing needed . It ’ s time we gather as an industry . It ’ s time we innovate , once again , at the best-in-class meeting . The sweet spot of innovation , technology and all other areas ( leadership , sales strategy , teamwork , best practices , trends and future landscape ) will be on display , November 15-17 , 2021 in Orlando , Florida .