Every day, Insurance Claim HQ Founder Galen M. Hair helps clients recover losses after suffering through hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and more. He also advises clients on protecting their properties before extreme weather events.
He's seen homes with strong foundations that have helped the structures weather storms and weak or broken foundations that have caused complete collapse. In that, he sees a metaphor for the world of entrepreneurship. He believes that the foundation of a business is strong leadership, and without a strong leader, businesses are less likely to flourish and withstand changing business climates.
For his part, Hair works hard to develop great relationships with the staff and fellow attorneys at his New Orleans-based property-casualty insurance legal firm. He is also a highly respected leader within the legal community and well-known for his ability to foster positive relationships with colleagues, which has contributed to the success and stability of the firm.
"Whether you're leading a team at work or starting your own business, leading others effectively is crucial for success," said Hair. "It's what separates the good entrepreneurs from the great ones."
Insurance Claim HQ opened in 2020, though Hair has years of experience in property-casualty insurance law. Since its first days, the firm has experienced exponential growth, invoicing more than $65 million in billable hours in 2021 and boasting no employee turnover during the pandemic. This is down to Hair's honed skills as a leader and his firm's purpose-led culture, one that's strongly driven by the desire to serve their clients and get them the insurance payouts they deserve.
When asked for leadership advice by up-and-coming entrepreneurs, these are some of the topics he loves to share.
Inspiring Others
Hair has long known that employees may do their jobs to get a paycheck, but they do their jobs with love and passion when they have an inspiring - and inspired - leader. A successful leader must motivate team members, build a sense of unity and pride in an organization, and enable a sense of being 'in this together.'
"Leadership is the single most important entrepreneurial skill," he said. "It's not about being the boss or the CEO - it's about the ability to inspire and motivate others to achieve a shared vision."
When asked to drill down deeper on inspiring a team - a directive that might sound daunting to a new founder - he had some down-to-earth advice.
"The best way a leader can inspire their team is to encourage collaborative work," he said. "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!"
Communication is Key
Great leaders must also communicate well, provide clear expectations, and the necessary resources and support that help employees reach their full potential. In addition, a leader has to make choices without faltering, take calculated risks, and quickly adjust to changing business climates to scale the business.
"The best leaders can communicate their vision clearly and effectively and have the ability to rally others around a common goal," said Hair. "They can also adapt to changing circumstances, making tough decisions and navigating challenges as they arise."
When asked for tips on communicating with staff and clients, he said that he believes in honesty, delivered straightforwardly. In his experience, staff, customers, and colleagues appreciate someone who respects them enough to let them know what's happening and trusts that they can handle any information shared.
"And, here is the real catch: Don't ever be afraid to say that you have no update. People prefer to hear that than to hear nothing at all," said the intuitive founder.
Empathy First
By this point, you likely get the idea that Hair cares deeply about others. He leads his organization with empathy, compassion, and grace.
That can play out as empathy for his firm's clients - many of whom have lost their homes and are struggling through the hardest times in their lives - as well as his employees and colleagues.
He believes in making every move in your business from a place of love, a value that has served him well in tough moments. "I tell my team I care. I tell my clients that we care. I tell our vendors that we care. When things get tough, it is amazing how people that have been treated well will simply accommodate you. They will do this because you are genuine in your unconditional love for others," he said.
And it's not just hot air coming from this leader. "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.
With Hair's inspiring advice, we can all hope to transform our businesses into places where motivation, collaboration, empathy, and love are present and prized.
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.
