Watch the episode on YouTube ↗️
What do leadership, followership, and workers’ compensation have in common? More than you might think. At their heart, all three are about relationships, trust, and helping people move forward.
That was the central theme when Herbert “Herb” Van Patten II, Senior Vice President and Chief Sales Officer of ISYS® Solutions and CareerSmart® Learning, joined Yvonne Guibert and Rafael Gonzalez, Esq., on the Deconstructing Comp podcast.
In an episode titled The Art of Followership, Herb shared lessons from more than 35 years in workers’ compensation, including a few unexpected career turns, his philosophy of leadership, and why the industry should think bigger about its purpose.
An Unlikely Beginning
Herb’s career in workers’ compensation began almost by accident.
After leaving the Army in 1991, armed with an English degree, military leadership experience, and fluency in Spanish, he landed a job as a Spanish-speaking vocational counselor.
Six months later, he was fired.
Fortunately, his employer recognized something else in him: an ability to connect with people. So, he rehired Herb in sales.
That employer? ISYS founder Chris Loumakis.
What began as a rather unconventional introduction to the industry became a lasting friendship, mentorship, and ultimately a career spanning more than three decades.
It’s a story that illustrates one of Herb’s central beliefs: relationships often matter more than the paths we originally planned.
Nurse Case Management: The Hub of the Wheel
One of the podcast’s most compelling discussions centers on the often-underestimated role of nurse case managers.
Herb challenges the perception that nurse case managers are merely an ancillary resource in the claims process. Instead, he describes them as the “hub of the wheel,” connecting injured workers, families, claims professionals, employers, and medical providers.
When these relationships function effectively, communication improves, barriers are identified earlier, and everyone can work toward a common goal: helping the injured worker recover and move forward.
This philosophy is central to ISYS’s CaseSmart® Approach, which emphasizes proactive intervention, collaboration, and building trust throughout the recovery process.
Trust Begins with Understanding
Drawing on his early experience working with Spanish-speaking injured workers, Herb emphasizes that effective communication goes well beyond translating words.
Speaking someone’s language, understanding cultural differences, and including family members when appropriate can transform an injured worker’s experience.
Entering the workers’ compensation system can be confusing and intimidating. Establishing a genuine human connection helps replace uncertainty with understanding and suspicion with trust.
As Herb explains, people are more likely to engage in their recovery when they feel heard, understood, and respected.
Followership: Leadership’s Overlooked Partner
While countless books and seminars focus on leadership, far less attention is paid to followership.
Yet nearly everyone, including senior executives, answers to someone.
Herb argues that effective followership isn’t about blind obedience. It’s about exercising good judgment, asking thoughtful questions, challenging ideas constructively, and recognizing that leaders sometimes have perspectives and information others don’t.
But trust must work both ways.
Effective leaders earn that trust through honesty, transparency, consistency, and a willingness to acknowledge their own limitations.
Herb also encourages leaders to create environments where people can make mistakes, learn from them, and grow without fear of humiliation.
After all, leadership isn’t about having every answer. It’s about helping others become better.
A Bigger Purpose for Workers’ Compensation
Perhaps the most thought-provoking moment comes when Herb challenges the industry to reconsider its fundamental mission.
What if workers’ compensation were about more than managing claims, controlling costs, and facilitating return to work?
What if our larger purpose were to positively change the trajectory of an injured worker’s life?
A workplace injury can be devastating. But with the right support, guidance, and opportunities, it can sometimes become a turning point toward new skills, a different career, or an unexpected future.
That doesn’t diminish the hardship of an injury. It recognizes the extraordinary opportunity our industry has to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
And perhaps that’s the most important message of the entire conversation.
Watch the Full Conversation
From getting fired and rehired by the same person to exploring the responsibilities of leaders and followers, Herb’s conversation offers humor, practical insights, and a refreshing perspective on the human side of workers’ compensation.
Whether you’re a seasoned industry professional or just beginning your career, there’s something here worth considering.
Watch the full episode of The Art of Followership on Deconstructing Comp, featuring Herb Van Patten II with Yvonne Guibert and Rafael Gonzalez, Esq.
No responses yet