1. COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
Kelly Hennigan, FSA, CFA (MODERATOR)
Stephen bochanskI, FSA, CERA, maaa
David karo, aSA, MAAA
MITCHell Stephenson, FSA, MAAA
May 22, 2018

2. Panelists Kelly Hennigan, FSA, CFA (moderator)
Steve Bochanski, FSA, CERA, MAAA
David Karo, ASA, MAAA
Mitch Stephenson, FSA, MAAA

3. Polling Question: Communication Breakdown was released on the “B-side” of which Led Zeppelin song?
Stairway to Heaven
Good Times Bad Times
Ramble On
Fool in the Rain
None of the above

4. Actuaries & Communication
"Being strong in math is a given,
but having soft skills,
such as the ability to communicate well
and work in a team, can be just as important."
~ Tonya B. Manning, past president of the Society of Actuaries 4

5. Presence & Presenting

6. Elements Of Personal Impact
Tone of voice
Posture
Gestures
Language
Facial expressions
Dress
Eye contact

7. Body Language

8. Polling Question: “What would you say if I took those words away
Polling Question: “What would you say if I took those words away?” is a line from which of the following songs?
“Oh Babe, What Would You Say?” by Hurricane Smith
“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” by Lana del Rey
“What Would You Say” by the Dave Matthews Band
“More Than Words” by Extreme

9. Body Language

10. Communication Structure
Opening
Subject
Agenda
Agenda
Agenda
Topic
Topic
Topic
Summary
Summary
Summary
Conclusion

11. Tips For Communicating To Executives
Executives usually have the following questions that should be answered:
What is the problem or issue?
Why is it a problem?
What has been done about it so far and who/what departments have been involved?
What do you recommend at this point and why?
What are next steps and what decision is needed?
Be as proactive as possible in answering these questions within your document or presentation.

12. Polling Question: Rate the PowerPoint presentations you see at corporate meetings…
Great – better than a TED Talk!
Good
Average
Bad
Sleep Inducing (….zzzzzzzz….)

13. PowerPoint Best Practices
Avoid Overcrowding
Meaningful Pictures
Appropriate Font
Consistency

14. The Good the Bad and the Ugly

15. 2017 Excel Models*
* Illustrative data 15

16. Potential Productive Outcomes Of Conflict
Clarifying
Learning
Helpful
Inclusive
Caring

17. The Dynamic Curve of Change
Time Line
Re-inventing / Re-Investing Team
A cross-functional team that develops new ideas and or approaches
to existing problems and or identifying
elements which may be both known and unknown to the organization
Decline Phase
Acceptance
And
Integration
Phase
Change initiative must occur
Prior to the decline phase!
Why?
Because in the decline phase, the
Standard response is to “cut”
Spending and programs.
Change Initiated
Initial Resistance
Initial Acceptance 17

18. 88 Excel Models developed in 201718

19. Polling Question: What percentage of employee time in spent in meetings?
Less than 20%
20 – 35%
35 – 50%
50% or more

20. Meeting Dynamics “Half of the world is composed of people who
have something to say and can’t,
and the other half who
have nothing to say and keep on saying it.”
~ Robert Frost, American poet 20

21. To Improve Meeting Dynamics:
Ask people to prepare for brainstorming
Make sure to hear from everyone
Don't be afraid to be contrarian

22. Remote Communication

23. “I got your email… it almost made sense.”
You’ve Got Mail!
“I got your … it almost made sense.”
~ Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert comic strip and non-fiction author

24. To Change Your Flesch-Kincaid Writing Level
Use fewer words per sentence and syllables per word.
Use active voice. Get to the point!
Edit, review, edit, review - then hit send.

25. Trust “It is not the critic who counts…
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again,
but who does actually strive to do the deeds;
and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”
~ Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States of America 25

26. Trust “Vulnerability is not weakness.
And that myth is profoundly dangerous.
Vulnerability is the birthplace of
innovation, creativity and change.”
~ Brené Brown, research professor, speaker, author

27. Communicating Feedback
“Feedback is the breakfast of champions.”
~ Ken Blanchard, American management consultant

28. When Communicating Feedback…
Provide informally, in-the-moment feedback is best
Avoid feedback sandwiches for constructive criticism
Set a goal: don't give, or receive, any new feedback at your next performance review

29. Actuaries & Communication
“The single biggest problem in communication is
the illusion that it has taken place. "
~ George Bernard Shaw , Irish playwright, critic, and political activist 29

30. Q&A