Meet Michael Banks
The Curse of the Ungrateful Employee
Why You’re Experiencing Churn Instead of Gratitude
No matter how much someone loves their job, at the end of the day, most people come to work to get a paycheck. But providing steady income to your employees doesn’t mean they will automatically feel appreciated and stick around, and it shouldn’t! If you’re struggling with employee churn and an unhappy workplace, it’s time to look at how you can create a culture of gratitude. Be a Leader If you want to cultivate a culture of gratitude, you need to lead the charge. This doesn’t have to be a big production; a quick, genuine “thank you” when you’re passing through the break room can go a long way. A study from the University of Pennsylvania found that when leaders expressed gratitude to their employees, those employees were 50 percent more successful. Plus, employees that feel appreciated tend to have a higher degree of job satisfaction, which is crucial for longevity. Keep Compensation and Benefits Current Offering good benefits shows employees you’re invested in their overall health and futures. If you find yourself losing good employees to your competition, it might be time to look at what they offer that you don’t. Are you paying employees a fair wage for their work — or better? Do the benefits go beyond the legally required minimum? Are they the kinds of benefits your employees actually want and need? Having a reputation for offering the best benefits in your area will attract quality employees and make your current employees feel valued, keeping them from seeking greener pastures. Prioritize Respect Respect is one of the top three things employees look for in the workplace. In fact, a 2012 survey of social workers found that a lack of respect is a large contributing factor of voluntary turnover. Paul Marciano, organizational psychologist and author of “Carrots and Sticks Don’t Work,” outlines a few critical ways managers can show respect. • Equip employees with the tools they need to be successful. • Set clear expectations and hold employees accountable. • Practice thoughtfulness, empathy, and kindness. • Trust in your employees’ abilities — don’t micromanage. Employee happiness doesn’t have to come at the cost of company profit — just look at Salesforce! This global CRM leader was voted the No. 1 spot on Forbes “100 Best Companies to Work For” list in 2018. More often than not, happiness translates to overall success. Look around and see how you can start building a culture of gratitude and happiness at your own company.
At Risk Services/Insurica, we don’t want to be an obstacle in our client’s daily routine. Instead, we aim to empower them to run their business with peace of mind, knowing that we’ve got their back.
This is why, for Risk Services/Insurica producer Michael Banks, the best part of the entire job is “being there on claim day.”
“Saving my clients money is important, sure,” he says, “But what’s really rewarding is when something happens and we’re able to make them whole again.” He’s heard all the industry horror stories of rejected claims and endless legal battles, so he relishes any opportunity to truly be there for the people he serves. Michael has a background that gives him unique insight into his client’s needs and concerns. Before he joined the Risk Services/ Insurica team in 2017, Michael worked as a crane operator for the oil and gas industry. There, he developed an appreciation for the necessity of effective risk management. “There’s a lot of uncertainty when you’re dangling 50 tons of equipment over five human lives,” he says, “It’s the kind of place where you definitely want to have your T’s crossed and your I’s dotted.” As for his approach to the industry, Michael calls himself a natural contrarian. “I try to do the exact opposite of what the competition does,” he says. Instead of touting all the bells and whistles, he prefers “to show clients their exclusions,” what they’re not getting. “Transparency is a big thing for me. It’s why I list myself as ‘the most genuine guy this side of the Mississippi’ on my LinkedIn profile. Of course, that depends which side of the river you’re on ...” Outside of the office, Michael has his hands full with spending time with his wife and his 2-month-old and 2-year-old daughters. He jokes that their newborn is a “precious little angel,” but the 2-year-old is “a viper in a diaper.” When he can convince his older daughter to tag along in the golf cart, he likes to hit the links and feed a few ducks along the way. Michael certainly is as real as they come, and we’re lucky to have him on our team. Though he hasn’t been here long, we look forward to what’s sure to be a long and storied career at Risk Services/Insurica!
2 • www.insurica.com • Specialized Insurance Programs for Specialized Industries.
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online