You're busy. You have appointments to keep, calls to make, texts to send, voicemail messages to listen to, research to finish, proposals to write, admin to complete, staff to help—all in addition to multiple client meetings. It's just another day in the life of an insurance broker. Sometimes, you may find yourself running from appointment to appointment with little time in between. No big deal if you’re a little late, right?

Wrong. 

Being Punctual is Being Professional

The most immediate way you can send the wrong signals to new and existing clients is by lacking punctuality. If you are late to meetings, you’re telling them that you don’t respect their time.

Remember, your clients are busy, too. They have the same day-to-day “stuff” to deal with, just like you. Eventually, everyone you do business with, or want to do business with, will become unhappy if you keep them waiting. Perpetual late-arrivers are viewed as unprofessional and disorganized.

People who are late may also make mistakes because they cut corners or skim over the details while rushing around. And, insurance brokers who make mistakes can do a lot of damage. That form that didn't get completed properly, the small print that wasn't explained well, could result in clients getting less effective coverage or new policy options that were not even known about.

These become issues that your clients and prospective clients become concerned about, too. Over time, they may worry that because you are always late, your work must be sloppy and disorderly, too—that you’ll miss details on policies or aren’t keeping up to date on important coverage changes. In other words, their faith in you will diminish.

The bottom line is, be punctual. It shows you are on top of the job and that you can be trusted. Brokers who have a track record of being trusted, win more business—and keep more business.