Description: The October/November 2013 edition of The Actuary magazine—the Society of Actuaries’ flagship publication.

Description: This book explores diplomatic strategy in an historical context. Many of the lessons in the book are useful to business decision-makers.

Description: Relationship management is your ability to use your awareness of your own emotions and those of others to manage interactions successfully. Given enough time and quality exchanges, we can form a relationship with any person we encounter. We should strive to develop positive relationships with people we like, and even with those we don’t like as much. Once established, both parties will understand each other better and benefit from the connection. Relationships can be challenging, especially at work or under stress. Skillfully managing them will help you initiate direct and productive conversations to alleviate misunderstandings, solve conflicts and achieve desired goals. This article explores strategies to develop the skill of relationship management.

Description: Article outlines application of the 11 leadership principles defined by the Marine Corps in a corporate setting.

Description: Executives often tell subject matter experts such as actuaries, “You should think more strategically!” But, the executives never define what they mean by “thinking more strategically”. This article defines the skills actuaries need to be perceived as being more strategic. It will provide practical steps actuaries can take to gain more strategic influence and escape the trap of being perceived as only a subject matter expert who provides limited strategic value.

Description: This article describes the EXCEL Model, a teaching and coaching tool developed by The Flippen group, College Station, Texas and adopted by many organizations. It focuses the leader on the needs of the team. The five components of the model are: Engage, X-plore, Communciate, Empower and Launch.

Description: This article offers a simple three step process to making the time to deal with long-term strategic issues.

Description: A discussion of why so few actuaries break through the “math ceiling” to emerge as true business leaders. Certain skills and behaviors necessary for effective leadership are not innate in people drawn to the actuarial profession.

Description: The authors share eight vulnerabilities that leaders need to watch out for.

Description: In the Leadership & Development Section’s Leadership Inspiration Contest, entrants were asked to tell what inspired them to be a better actuarial leader. Here is an entry from the “Leadership Quote” category.