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>> Robert W. Bedell, III, CIC, is president of Southern Mutual Church Insurance Company in Columbia, South Carolina. Southern Mutual provides churches in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee with property and liability insurance coverage, workers’ compensation, business automobile insurance, and umbrella liability insurance: additional coverage.
on management…
My style of management is permissive. By that, I mean that I seek to allow others to take part in decision making and give them a high degree of authority in completing activities. I believe in setting goals for individuals and for the company, then working as a team to achieve those goals. I try to hire outstanding people and use my position to offer encouragement and guidance.
on leadership…
I believe a good leader should demonstrate a strong work ethic and have high expectations for each staff member, thus fostering the achievement of pride among employees. I also try to follow the quote that Ronald Reagan had on his White House desk: “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.”
on serving a niche market…
The best thing about working in a niche market is the ability to become an expert in providing their insurance needs. By being able to focus our energies and efforts in a particular niche, we gain a better understanding of our policyholders and their unique needs, and are able to develop strong relationships and have a very loyal customer base.
A difficulty in providing insurance to a niche market is that you limit your ability to capture growth. Our company was created by the religious community 80 years ago when sellers of insurance would not respond to the market. Now there are many commercial insurance companies that attempt to write this class of business. The concerns that lead to the creation of the company are not as prevalent in our market today.
on life’s lessons…
On the wall behind my office desk hangs a quote from Abraham Lincoln:
“Live a good life and in the end, it’s not the years in a life, it’s the life in the years.”
The most important lesson I have learned is to live life to the fullest. Every day should be appreciated and experienced. Strive to make a difference, continue to dream. Take nothing for granted. Enjoy precious moments and accept hardships as learning experiences. I’ve come to the conclusion that strong character and integrity are essential for an anchored life.
Posted: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 12:00:00 AM. Modified: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 4:23:09 PM.
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