Seeing "The Big Picture"

"Put a golf ball under a microscope, and it looks like the surface of the moon."
"Focus on only the car in front of you while you are driving and you are sure to have an accident real soon!"
"Unless you are the lead sled dog, the scenery never changes- all you ever see is a hairy butt!"

Where is this going? Sometimes I worry myself. However, I know this... When we get too close to something, sometimes we lose perspective, and fail to see the "big picture".

I see this many times with my clients and prospectives as well. They get so wrapped up in trying to "save a buck" on insurance expenses that they forget why they buy insurance in the first place- to cover and protect their business in case of a major claim! Don't get me wrong- I have run businesses and am currently helping run one now. I know the importance of keeping expenses in check. However, never at the risk of protecting your employees and your assets!

There is a much more to your risk and insurance plan than "getting the cheapest insurance quote". Here are a few things to consider:
   --Are you listening to your employees, understanding how valuable they really are to your organization? Have you really trained them properly, creating the best "safety culture" you can?

  --How effective is your hiring process in weeding out potential "bad hires"? What are you doing about it?

  --Do you have a workable "return to work" program, and are you using it? How has that "return to work" program (or lack of it) affected your Workers Comp experience mod factor?

  --Do you know that you have ample coverage to protect your P&L, not just you Building, if your building blew away in a storm? Are you covered amply if your business is closed for 3 months? 6 months? Longer?

  --What is the worst disaster that you can think of for your business? Are you covered and prepared to handle this problem?

There are literally endless questions you can ask yourself, but the key is to take a step back and take a look at your business and to focus in a broader perspective about your risk and operational needs. I know how hard you work "in" you business. Today, take some time to work "on" your business and make sure you are comfortable with your overall risk plan.

Let me know what you find.

Bobby Bland PWCA, CIC
Vice President
Commercial Risk Service