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: Providing ways to master the art of soft skills and embracing agility to propel actuarial success in today's market.

Description: The article presents specific operational guidelines when managers and staff are having difficult conversations. The article reviews half a dozen "popular" guidelines but shows that they are not specific. The article then in two layers presents specific operational guidelines. First the article based on a commonality of principles of email etiquette and Jewish Speech Laws reviews five guidelines for ordinary conversations: focus on events vs. people, focus on fixes vs. blames, being holistic (acknowledge any good done), be operational (indicate outcome and how to accomplish it), and use of tentative tone. The article concludes by adding three specific guidelines for difficult conversations: shared-self-evaluation, skillful use of breaks when emotions flair, and use of open-ended lead-on questions coupled with continuous empathy and offers of collaborative support.

Description: Latest installment in a series covering the application of Buddhist principles to the working world of actuaries. This installment specifically addresses how the desires and wishes of actuaries are never truly satisfied but rather just shift to other wants and desires, and what actuaries can do to find more peace in their workplace and careers.

Description: Read how to combine people management and mentorship to create positive and open environments and improve employee engagement and productivity.

Description: This article is about the need for actuaries and technical professionals to develop critical leadership and other soft skills, and highlights the ways the SOA Leadership & Development section provides tools to develop those skills.

Description: A case study involving a senior actuarial student and a former actuarial student who aren't on the same page.

Description: A compilation of reader responses to a real life management situation in which one actuary went over his boss's head.

Description: A compilation of reader responses is presented to a real life situation posed involving a management, leadership, or other business decision. This issue’s case study involved whether a recently departed employee should be offered the chance to return, and whether he should consider it.

Description: The author reviews 13 bad habits that create barriers to sales success.