Earlier in my career, there were many days when I would wake up with a pit in my stomach; I begrudgingly got ready for work and had to take a deep breath before I sat down at my desk, knowing that I was in for a long day. I didn’t realize it then, but I was missing social wellness at work. The agents I worked with were merely vehicles to write business. My colleagues were friendly, but relationships were superficial at best.
Once I got acclimated to that “something different” at Selective, the pit in my stomach went away. I enjoyed being in the office. I had fun getting to know my colleagues and learning from them. I invested time in building relationships with my agency partners. I genuinely enjoyed the successful results that stemmed from the relationships I built. Not only were these results business driven, but they also helped me build a foundation of a positive work-life balance. If I were graded on my social wellness, it would be an A+!
Then the pandemic hit, and our collective social wellness failed. We became isolated and lost our connections. The relationships we took for granted because they were so easy to maintain suddenly needed work. Thank goodness for video calls – I became quite proficient in using different technologies and finding creative ways to be social. My colleagues and I held virtual spirit weeks, pumpkin carving contests, and bring your pet to your workspace events, as well as countless virtual happy hours. Even now, as many of us navigate a hybrid work environment, we have to continue being deliberate in the ways we stay connected with colleagues in the office and remote.
Since that initial ‘ah ha’ moment when I realized the importance of building and maintaining work relationships, I’ve shared this learning with countless colleagues and business partners. And during interviews, when I’m asked why I’ve been at Selective so long, I always answer with “the people.” My relationships with my team, peers and distribution partners keep me happy, healthy and fulfilled. This is social wellness at its core.
About the Author
Valerie Sparks is the Senior Vice President, Southwest Region Manager at Selective, overseeing the region's commercial new and renewal operations. Throughout her tenure at Selective, she has held roles of increasing seniority, including Underwriting, Underwriting Manager, Territory Manager, and Vice President of Underwriting in the Mid-Atlantic and Southwest Regions. Earlier in her career, Valerie worked as an Underwriter and Account Manager for insurance firms in Iowa and New Jersey. She currently resides in Arizona with her husband and two children.