Q Hello Amber! Can you tell us: What is your role and how long have you worked at Cincinnati?
I have been with The Cincinnati Insurance Companies for 14 years. I began my career with Cincinnati as a Commercial Lines underwriter then was given the opportunity to work with the Learning & Development department on a temporary basis. I loved working with L&D where I helped create agency training and I was invited to stay on. My current role with Cincinnati is a Learning Consultant. I work to help agencies recently appointed by Cincinnati Insurance to assess their agencies' training needs. I also work with existing agencies within my territory on continuing education.
Q What does a Learning and Development team do at an insurance company?
Cincinnati's Learning & Development department offers a full slate of learning opportunities. For producers, agency management and our company's own associates, we train on all aspects of the insurance profession from enhancing personal and professional skills to technical knowledge. L&D also has a team that supports the creation of online, video and virtual learning.
Q What types of programs do you offer your agents?
Cincinnati offers a variety of programs to help educate agents about our commercial, personal and life insurance products. We also offer programs for new producers and account representatives to help them develop their professional skills.
Q
How did Cincinnati decide on offering sales training to its agents?
Cincinnati's goal is to be the best company serving independent agents. We want our agents to be successful and to help them do that, we need to provide them with the right tools and training.
Q Can you describe your programs?
We have programs covering general and advanced commercial topics, management liability, surety, personal lines, selling skills, excess and surplus lines, as well as programs for new producers and new account representatives.
Q How many participants have gone through your programs?
Wow! To go back through all the years we have been training agents would take a while. But to give you some perspective, in 2015, we trained 6,450 people, including company associates and agency personnel. We also had 8,254 people attend webinars throughout the year.
Q What kind of feedback do you get from the participants in the programs?
Here are just a few comments about our programs:
"Commercial Lines Workshop for Account Representatives was a very informative class. I liked the interaction and hands-on approach. The instructors were top-notch and made the day most enjoyable. It was the most fun time I have experienced in a class situation. Thanks Cincinnati!"
"Great presenters and information in the Workshop for Contractor Liability. Truly learned a lot of useful information. Gave me increased confidence in my role at my agency."
"By participating in this program I was able to refer to those who have been integral to my training from my office, while being offered challenges, sales techniques and further insight from members of Cincinnati, as well as professional teaching/coaching agencies."
Q How about the agency principals?
The agency principals love our programs. They can continue to focus on selling and growing their businesses, while we take care of training their new producers and account representatives.
Q How do you integrate companies like Polestar into your organization?
We partner with a few select vendors to enhance our internal capabilities. We look for likeminded organizations that dovetail our values and approach to training and business.
Q How do you go about advertising and selecting the participants?
Cincinnati agents can sign up for most of our programs. We do have a couple of programs where the producers or account representatives are nominated by their agencies and acceptance is decided by a committee made up of Learning & Development and Sales associates.
Q How has your relationship with Polestar helped bring value to your Company?
Cincinnati has the technical expertise to teach coverages, products and frontline underwriting, but we do not do what the agent does: sell insurance. That is where Polestar's expertise comes into play to complement our programs.
Thank you Amber! And thank you Cincinnati in going the extra mile to help develop a team of professional industry personnel!
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