Broker training in the #MeToo era AXA and Brokerbility train team leaders

AXA-UK-and-Brokerbility-December-2019-training-session

Management training for team leaders in Brokerbility businesses

First part delivered by Van der Laan Management Consultants, second part by law firm rradar

Seminars support cultural change at hand in insurance

AXA UK and the Brokerbility Academy have teamed up to provide hands-on management training for future and current team leaders in the broker network.

The residential seminars aim to empower independent broker team leaders. They cover the main issues that may affect teams, including the type of misconduct exposed by #MeToo revelations.

The training programme is twofold, with a focus on prevention and then a focus on intervention. The sessions are facilitated by members of the AXA Broker Development team and Brokerbility Learning & Development using two sector experts.

The first prevention seminar, led by Van der Laan Management Consultants, explains how good managers communicate, how to set clear measurable objectives, how to empower and delegate within teams. It also enables team leaders to benchmark their existing broker culture.

The second intervention seminar, held by law firm rradar, is designed to build team leader confidence. It explains how to approach issues such as poor performance, absenteeism, grievances, complaints and conflicts, and how to tackle bullying, harassment and discrimination.

Several scandals have rocked the insurance industry. In the 2019 Lloyd’s of London culture survey, 8% of respondents had witnessed sexual harassment in the market over the previous year and 22% of respondents had seen people in their organisation turn a blind eye to inappropriate behaviour.

Sexism, racism, bullying and discrimination can occur in many environments. Whilst the team leader seminars organised by AXA UK and Brokerbility don’t come as a response to a specific issue – both organisations have long been committed to promoting a culture of respect and developing independent brokers through knowledge sharing – the industry context makes their curriculum more relevant.

The first seminar, which took place in December, received excellent delegate feedback and the second seminar will take place in February.

“We are proud to help our broker partners develop their people. The training programme was co-created throughout with Brokerbility, who listened to the needs of their members and had a real desire to respond. It delivers the knowledge sharing in two distinct parts, with an initial focus on the building blocks for good team leadership and then on practical legal insight should an issue be tackled. Both seminars support the cultural change at hand in our sector, to make it more inclusive”, said Ken Wright, Head of Broker Development, AXA Commercial Lines.

Ian Stutz, Managing Director, Brokerbility commented, “In the spirit of true partnership, the AXA and Brokerbility teams worked well together to produce this bespoke programme. Our independent broker members really value this investment in their employees’ professional and personal development.”

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