In today’s increasingly digital and remote-working world, many advisers might find themselves working at a distance from their clients. Whether this means consulting with them via e-mail, on the phone or by video call, working remotely from home, rather than in person, is now very much the norm.
While the flexibility of remote-working offers many benefits such as time-savings, reduced travel costs, and improved efficiencies, it can also be quite isolating and solitary. Many advisers work long days handling client queries and dealing with admin requests, sometimes without interacting directly with another person. This can prove to be a lonely experience.
Although virtually communicating with clients is certainly efficient, it tends to lack the richness of face-to-face contact. This lack of physical interaction with people can also make it hard for advisers to feel connected to their clients and build solid and meaningful relationships.
Working remotely can create a sense of loneliness on a professional level too. The specialised nature of many advisers’ work means it can be difficult to find others who can relate to the very specific and niche challenges that the role entails, particularly for those who work alone.
Not working in a shared environment also means advisers are unable to bounce ideas or share experiences with like-minded individuals who understand the pressures of the job. This can further deepen the sense of isolation some may feel within their professional communities and exacerbate feelings of loneliness even further.
Addressing these challenges is a challenge, particularly as they are often considered to be part and parcel of working as a sole trader. However, there are options available for those who are seeking support or perhaps looking for more interaction with advisers in a similar position.
Being part of a network, for example, can help to address some of these challenges by offering advisers the chance to feel part of a larger organisation while continuing to retain their independence and operate as a one-person band or smaller firm.
Most networks offer adviser support services such as access to regular training events and educational workshops as well as themed social events; The Right Mortgage for example has recently started offering both mortgage coffee mornings as a way to get our adviser members ‘together’. These can provide an opportunity to advance industry knowledge while simultaneously interacting with like-minded advisers, many of whom will also work alone.
Social events in particular, are a great way for advisers to share ideas and connect and network with other people in their chosen industry. Not only can this provide the chance to learn and generate new ideas, it is also good for their well-being and mental health, particularly for those who work from home all day and don’t get a chance to talk much to other advisers.
Being part of a network has other benefits too, such as helping advisers to achieve economies of scale or explore business options that would not ordinarily be available to them, such as training and development programmes and marketing/promotional support.
It also gives advisers long-term options in terms of retirement planning and having an exit strategy when the time comes to step away from the business. This can be a particularly difficult process for smaller firms to navigate and being part of a network will allow them to explore options they may not have previously considered.
Connecting with other advisers or joining a professional group or network can offer advisers the chance to build a strong support system and help alleviate a sense of professional isolation that can often be felt by those who work alone.
Navigating this isolation does require intentional efforts to build connections both within and outside their working environment, particularly as remote working is here to stay. For those advisers seeking to address the nature of working alone or in a small remote team exploring the opportunities available by joining a network could offer the solution and support they need.
Amy Wilson is head of insurance at the Right Mortgage and Protection Network