Description: This article covers the importance of letting teams lead you as a leader, that it's okay to admit you're not okay even at work, and that it's important to find informal ways for virtual teams to connect.

Description: The average person spends from one third to one half of every waking hour thinking about the past or present. We talk to ourselves when we do. Psychologists have identified three steps you can take to make your self-talk more positive. This will make you happier and better able to achieve the goals you set at home and at work.

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: This is the third in a four-part series dedicated to strategies for improving EQ, based on the book Emotional Intelligence 2.0 written by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves. In previous issues of The Stepping Stone, I discussed the skills of self-awareness and self-management. In this article, I will share a few more of the book’s strategies and provide examples and personal insights to illustrate how to develop the third skill of social awareness in personal, social, and business situations.

Description: We stand for respect and equality. We are committed to doing all we can to ensure that our profession reflects the diverse perspectives, cultures and backgrounds of the members and candidates.

Description: The article describes the nature of actuarial research conducted at the Goldenson Center at the University of Connecticut. One of the research projects to create a National Retirement Sustainability Index is analyzed in detail. It demonstrates how the work we do at the Goldenson Center is both an art and a science while satisfying the following research criteria we adhere to at the Goldenson Center:  >The problem has to come from industry  >The solution has to add value to what is currently done in practice  >The solution has to be implementable

Description: Author of Content won "Best Quote" category of L&D writing contest. Looks at the source of courage both in history and in his own professional life. Valuable to better understand how to face moments in leadership that could inspire fear and trembling. Discusses ways to improve courage when called to lead.

Description: Interview with the current Chair of the Retirement Section Council, describing the work of the Council and other topics.

Description: With increasing demand for quality new-hires, it is increasingly important to hire the most impactful employees. Actuaries who think creatively can have a disproportionately positive effect on their employers. In this article, we discuss how to identify this type of person during the interview process.

Description: This is a conversation with two critical staff members of the Society of Actuaries (SOA) about their experience there. Jane Lesch is a non-actuary who has been working at the SOA for over 20 years, and is an engagement specialist. Mike Boot is an actuary who retired at the end of February after 15 years at the SOA, most recently as managing director. We spoke to both Jane and Mike to get their take on what leadership is about, and how working at the SOA impacted them.