As one of the most challenging years on record draws to a close, Argo Insurance’s well-established Professional Lines team reveals how they have bucked the trend and flourished throughout lockdown in Bermuda – achieving exceptional levels of productivity and performance.
Virtual meetings promote focus and engagement
Prior to the pandemic, the team relied mainly on face-to-face meetings to discuss all risks before offering terms to brokers. When restrictions came into place, the team replaced their daily in-person roundtables with videoconferencing to ensure all members could still weigh in.
“The lack of face-to-face meetings is a definite negative; however, our discussions now are more focused, leading to more effective and efficient group meetings,” says Sherron Williams, SVP, Professional Lines Underwriter.
Remote working creates time for physical well-being
The whole team reports that despite working harder than ever, they are enjoying a better work-life balance and finding more time to focus on health and fitness.
“We were a seasoned and highly functioning team prior to the pandemic, which made the transition to remote communication relatively easy,” says Bill Wharton, Head of Argo Insurance in Bermuda. “Early on, we had twice-daily underwriting calls, but that has settled down and now the pace and time of communication is dictated by need.”
Mike Butler, SVP, Professional Lines, believes that remote working through the pandemic has actually had a positive impact on the way the team operates.
“Going completely paperless has been a welcome change, and while there may have been a few hiccups early on, I believe the process is working well now,” he says. “From a team perspective, using MS Teams has improved how we underwrite and communicate as a group.”
