The THiNK Blog

I've always found the week leading up to New Year's to be an inspirational yet, emotional week. Inspirational because on any given day, you'll see flashbacks of the year's highlights in Hollywood, Wall Street, Capitol Hill & Silicon Valley. Emotional, because 2016 has been the worst in recent memory with regards to the loss of significant cultural icons. This year we've lost, David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Prince, Mohamed Ali, Arnold Palmer, Alan Thicke, and of course, the beloved Carrie Fisher (and her mother, Debbie Reynolds). 

What a year it has been for us all. But what are some of the highlights for the life underwriting community?

As a longer-standing member of LOGiQ³’s team of underwriters, I often get asked a lot of questions, both from an internal coaching perspective, as well as an external interested stakeholder perspective. On the external side, the number one question I get asked is, “HOW do you pronounce the name of your company!?” And I tell them, just exactly how you would think ;).

Once they get over that hurdle and blush from the fact that it is actually an easy name to pronounce, they move onto things like: “What is your workflow like?” or “What types of life insurance products do you handle?” “What resources do you have access to?” All very logical questions if you ask me! Below is actually a direct quote from a current colleague of mine who, prior to joining, was interested in working for us. And this is just a short snippet from the 21 questions game we played about the company in what was a very long (re: humorous & enjoyable) email chain indeed.

Developing a Client Driven Culture is something we live and breathe. After all, it is one of the 11 Maxims that drive the way we do business.

You may remember our previous post What it means to be Client Driven, where we highlighted two very important facets of a Client Driven business; one the ability to deliver on promises and two provide a high level of service to clients. Under promise and over deliver – Customer Service 101.  However, being client-driven is more than just a process or standard service – it is a frame of mind that should be present in all aspects of your business development model, to ensure ultimate client satisfaction. 

We are living in a world where consumers are highly knowledgeable and more empowered than ever – an age where information is at our fingertips and most customers have done extensive research on their purchase options well before dealing with any sales person. This has shaped what it means to have a client driven business to include more than just follow-through on commitments and providing clients with the level of service that they (rightfully) expect. Being client-driven is about anticipating the needs of your clients and honing your product or service to meet and exceed them. Being able to provide a solution to any current or future challenges, allows you to stay ahead of the curve as your industry grows and evolves around you.

So how can you stay ahead of the curve?

By now, many of you have likely read Mark Zuckerberg and wife, Priscilla Chan's letter to their newborn daughter, announcing that they will be donating 99% of their Facebook shares (valued at approx. $45 billion) to causes such as curing diseases, personalized learning and building stronger communities, among others. 

The letter was moving, it was honest and it was written for a greater cause, but most importantly, it was inspirational. Zuckerberg's gesture really should serve as inspiration to everyone across the globe. It's a representation of the fact that we can ALL make a difference. Here's why.

When someone says ‘I.T.’, what comes to mind?

• ‘Wikipedia says it stands for Information Technology’
• ‘Those are the guys who got me a new mouse when mine died….’
• ‘Ugh!  Whenever I have a problem, they ALWAYS tell me to restart!  That’s all they say!!’

So yes – I.T. does, in those moments of need, provide a replacement mouse when required.  And yes, sometimes we tell you to reboot your machine [an explanation is coming later in this post].  The reality of working in I.T. is that there may not be any constant waves of praise coming our way, but that’s okay!  When things are working, we typically don’t hear from anyone, which conveys that all things are working well.  When something’s not working?  That help desk phone does not stop ringing, but I.T. is there to help!

I have a professional interest in the risks associated with prostate cancer. As a life underwriter, I come across prostate disorders all too often, and it’s my job to know how to assess the risk associated with these conditions appropriately. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, Prostate cancer is “the most common cancer among Canadian men (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). It is the third leading cause of death from cancer in men in Canada”. From the same source, “Based on 2010 estimates, about 1 in 8 Canadian men is expected to develop prostate cancer during his lifetime and 1 in 27 will die from it.”

In addition to my professional interest, I also have a personal interest in the risks associated with prostate cancer, ever since my father was diagnosed with it five years ago. Obviously, any cancer diagnosis is a shock to one’s entire family; the stress and anxiety associated with the tests and consultations, and the decisions that have to be made, only make a difficult situation worse. Luckily, the cancer was detected very early, the surgery he received only required a short hospital stay and the recovery process was measured in months. In his case, no further treatment was required after the surgery and every follow-up exam has been clear. My family’s experience can be seen as a “best case scenario”. Regular exams and rapid treatment saved my father’s life. However, my dad still needs to be vigilant about his health, and so do I and my brothers. Family history is an important component of prostate cancer risk.

At LOGiQ³ there is a dedication to providing our clients with an exceptional experience and with delight, at every interaction. This objective is supported by proactively listening to our clients and customers, one method we have adopted is the Star Rating Concept in our new Underwriting  E-Learning Management System v2.0. This tool is mutually beneficial to us and our users alike.

In past years, I believe it is safe to say that transparency, as a corporate value was less prominent than it is today. More and more, we’re seeing organizations prioritize transparency as a business practice in many of their actions and communications, especially progressive companies. This is definitely the case at LOGiQ³, however, recently we had to make a call on transparency which I thought I'd share with folks who may have found themselves in a similar situation and to hopefully gain feedback on our decision.

I have a major love/hate relationship with public speaking. On one hand, I am given the opportunity to share my experience and advice with people who exhibit a similar interest but on another, well… like most of you, I get nervous!