Description: Actuaries must be able to present compelling arguments to win over their audience. For the first time, they may be managing a staff looking for direction, making recommendations to senior leaders, or trying to persuade non-actuarial colleagues who see the world differently. This series of articles is intended to educate young actuarial professionals on key business influencing skills that will be beneficial in the near term as well as throughout their careers. Part 1 is focused on leading and influencing a team.

Description: Based on a decades-long study, honesty is the most important quality in a leader. This article addresses ways to establish trust with their co-workers.

Description: The author, a career counselor, notes that ‘during your career, career search, home life, etc., you will often be faced with a plethora of possible actions and requests far beyond what you can, should or are currently willing to handle.’ The author goes on to provide advice in the art of saying no, in a positive manner that will help you achieve your goals. From ‘The Stepping Stone’ issue number 43.

Description: Summarized description of four books on data visualization and their common themes

Description: How to strike a balance between words and graphs.

Description: Effective communication

Description: Humor in the workplace can improve productivity. This article describes a typical office relationship problem and how humor helped disparate teams work together.

Description: Business leadership lessons from non-business leaders: interpersonal skills and people management

Description: A seven step plan to help actuaries start thinking like business owners when it comes to managing their careers, and enhance their career 'stock value'.

Description: This article gives suggestions for overcoming the design and presentation challenges of the 60-second personal networking or branding pitch.