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Leadership is essential to scaling a successful business, but there are as many leadership styles as there are company founders.
Galen M. Hair, Owner of New Orleans’ Insurance Claim HQ, a law firm focused on property-casualty insurance cases, is a prime example of this. His journey to success started when his business was in its early stages, although he already had many years of experience practicing property-casualty law.
As a longtime lawyer but less experienced boss, the founder decided to educate himself by reading books written by CEOs, learning from entrepreneurship articles, and watching interviews with the world’s great leaders to familiarize himself with their ideas. He hoped that exposure to these great ideas would also help him become a great leader.
A lifelong passionate learner, Hair took what he learned from his independent studies and applied it to his company. These lessons, paired with his inclination toward compassionate leadership, helped him grow his small business from a dozen employees to over 800 workers in just three years. In addition, Insurance Claim HQ billed over $65 million in hours last year and suffered from no pandemic-era employee turnover.
“Business success is not just about hard work and determination, but also about learning from others who have succeeded before us,” said Hair of his approach.
Compassionate Leadership
As a trailblazer in the property-casualty insurance claims industry, Hair has helped over a thousand families rebuild their homes and lives after being hit by natural disasters and denied claims by their insurance companies.
His expertise and compassionate approach have also made him a highly sought-after public speaker across the nation and a burgeoning thought leader in his field.
Hair’s success story is a testament to the importance of leadership in growing a successful business. He takes his empathetic style and applies it to his interactions with clients as well as employees.
“A lot of business leaders talk about getting the most out of your people by taking care of them, but it’s in my nature to care for the people that work for me. So if we have an uptick in success, better relationships, and higher productivity, it’s a win-win-win situation,” he said.
In considering how to react to an unhappy employee or irate client, Hair always calls one of his favorite quotes to mind. “I’ve always lived by this quote from Anne Frank: ‘Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.’ If you don’t believe that, it is hard to run a purpose-driven company,” he explained.
Growth With Heart
Much of the rapid growth at Insurance Claim HQ can be directly attributed to Hair’s leadership. His style is characterized by a heart-led approach that has been incredibly successful in helping clients — many of whom are suffering through one of the worst events of their lives — recover from the devastating effects of natural disasters.
He recognizes that the key to a successful and thriving business is to have a workforce that feels valued, heard, and supported. He knows he would not be where he is without these high-value employees and ensures they feel their worth every day.
Regularly checking in on people and asking if they’re ok is one way he does this. Another is being sure to know what’s going on in their outside lives so he can provide assistance. Hair prioritizes listening to his employees while understanding their perspectives and needs.
The generous founder’s approach to leading centers on the idea that empathy means putting yourself in your employee’s shoes and intuiting their challenges. This builds trust and fosters a positive work environment, increasing productivity and employee satisfaction.
Collaborate and Communicate
Among the most important lessons Hair has learned about leadership is to pitch-in whenever he can and encourage others to do the same.
“The best way a leader can inspire their team is to encourage collaborative work,” said Hair. “As a leader, when the team sees you taking initiative, they pick up on those traits and do their best. Also, don’t be afraid to be silly. Sometimes humor is exactly what the doctor ordered.”
With a few years under his belt, Hair is now an experienced leader. He relies on the strategy of leading from the front while also working closely with each person involved. One of the ways he believes that colleagues can reach true collaboration and communication is through honesty and transparency.
“I feel the best way to communicate important news is to be honest with the team and the customers. At the same time, it is important to also work with them to find the best possible solution and the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Hair. “And one thing I’ve learned the hard way: Don’t be scared to admit you have no update. People would rather hear that than radio silence when a big issue is looming.”
By sharing these inclusive ideas about strong yet caring direction, Hair is leading the charge that can change leadership for years to come.
About Galen M Hair
Galen M Hair, Owner at Insurance Claim HQ, is a property insurance attorney who has helped over 1200 families rebuild their homes and businesses. He has been rated a Super Lawyers Rising Star and voted one of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. Click here to learn more about protecting your property from disaster: http://www.insuranceclaimhq.com
