What to expect when you’re expecting to join Konsileo
When you join Konsileo as one of our brokers, you’ll join as part of a cohort of new starters for a two-week induction, followed by a 6-month onboarding process. So what exactly is involved in an induction – and what happens in the months afterwards? We spoke to Allan Rhodes, Chief People Officer, to get the lowdown.
Hi Allan! What is induction like at Konsileo?
It’s probably very different from induction processes brokers have been through at more traditional companies. Normally you would get your login details and equipment, and maybe a day of presentations about the company. But Konsileo is a very different sort of company, and learning how to be successful here is a very different sort of process.
It’s not just about sitting back and listening – it also involves a lot of thinking, and quite a bit of hard work.
Why do you induct people in cohorts?
There is a lot to learn at Konsileo. You have to learn how to use a completely new broking system, how to develop your own business, how to organise yourself to work totally remotely – and how to collaborate in a very different way.
Relationships are the key to success as a Konsileo broker, and your relationship with your cohort is the first strong working relationship you develop.
Very often we find our cohorts continue to talk to each other on a regular basis years down the line – and continue to work together for Konsileo clients, using Virtual Team Contracting to share tasks and revenue on our broking platform.
Why is induction such a long drawn-out process?
Working for Konsileo can be a very big change for people to make, and we want to set them up to do well. Dropping people in at the deep end and expecting them to find their feet wouldn’t be very fair!
We have very high expectations for our brokers, who are both employees and entrepreneurs, and we want to help you create a thriving business that serves clients brilliantly and rewards you for your hard work. Once you reach a certain level of turnover, you’ll be able to access our bonus system, and we want to help you mobilise and get there as quickly as possible.
How long does induction actually take?
The induction itself is two weeks. The first couple of days you will spend online from home, getting to know your cohort of colleagues, and spending time with some of our Senior Management Team – getting to know the company. That includes presentations and conversations with John Warburton our CEO, Peter Henderson our CTO, David Coles our CFO, David Sedgeley (CCO) and myself as Chief People Officer.
You’ll learn all about our culture and how we work with no line managers, set hours or arbitrary targets, all about our learning platform Konsileo Academy, and all about our unique broking system.
What happens next?
The next 3 days are an in-person workshop that we call ‘Build My Book’.
Build My Book (BmB) is a business modelling framework which helps you create a working business plan. We look at what’s made you successful in the past, what you can take forwards based on your strengths, talents and knowledge – and how Konsileo support and resources can enhance it.
Build My Book sessions are run with existing Client Directors who can share what they’ve done already, what’s worked and what’s not. The cohort work together to get feedback, test ideas, and share experiences, and at the end of the three days everyone presents their business plan to the group.
What happens in Week 2?
Week 2 is completely virtual and focuses on compliance and operations. You will get system logins and training, meet our Finance Team as well as our Commercial Team and hear about our processes, our markets, our insurer relations, our peer-review file process, and CPD opportunities and expectations.
What happens AFTER Week 2, during the 6-month onboarding process?
The Group Coaching which starts in the Build My Business workshop continues for the next 6 months – under the guidance of the Client Directors the cohort met in induction. Small groups will meet regularly to talk about how things are going, troubleshoot challenges they face, think through adjustments they need to make – and generally check on progress towards business goals.
As a coaching group you will also spend group and one-on-one time with our marketing team to support your lead-generation and acquisition strategies. We also set up sessions with our external partners, like Brokerbility and Close Brothers, to introduce you and see how they might help you support clients and achieve your business goals.
What other support do people get?
After 2 months you’ll have an individual deep-dive session with operations, to see how you’re getting on with using our systems in real life. As a new starter you’ll also have regular meetings with our HR team to check-on your wellbeing – as a group and as an individual.
Of course, all of our Client Directors are also part of our Regional Hubs who meet and work together locally, or can join Practice Groups to find and work with specific sector experts. So you’re never left alone to flounder!
We have other key milestones at 3 months and 6 months, where we’ll do a full review of how things are going, and what extra support or resources might be needed.
What else should people know about induction?
We think people learn better by doing, so you should know induction is an active process here. And learning is the key word. At Konsileo are all about learning and sharing. So if you are stuck in your ways, think you know it all, or are not open to new ideas – this may not be the place for you!
What’s the feedback like?
People take away different things, but for many Konsileo is a new start at being their best self – in both a broking and a personal sense. We hear often that induction has been quite powerful, and that coming here after a very traditional broking role is like a breath of fresh air – or being set free. Our induction is designed to both kick-start and direct that journey.
