It’s hard to imagine another time in history when personal viewpoints were held in a stauncher regard than they are today. Be it within the political sphere or outside of it, we’ve seemingly been conditioned to discard nuance and pick sides – I know I’ve been guilty of it myself.
As an actuary who assists with healthcare reform, it’s a challenge I’m often faced with due to stakeholders with diverse backgrounds, priorities and political agendas.
I know what you’re thinking – there’s contentiousness when it comes to healthcare reform? 😊
That one goes without saying. But mix in the added complexity of an industry that’s highly regulated and constantly changing, and you’ll find a cocktail that’s ripe for partiality, which makes our roles even more critical. So how do I navigate diverging opinions and steer decision makers towards a solution, all while maintaining credibility?
Objective and clear communication
It starts with a 365-degree education on the implications of potential decisions. Actuaries often deal with complex and technical information which can be challenging for outside professionals to fully comprehend. Clear and objective communication is key not only to successfully informing stakeholders about risk and uncertainty, but to establishing your reputation as a trusted and reliable expert. Actuaries are held to a high ethical standard – and we should be.
Next, is creating an environment where individuals with opposing positions are comfortable asking questions and sharing their opinions. As healthcare actuaries, we cross paths with all types of different stakeholders who understandably approach issues with their own perspective based on their own experience.
Unlocking respectful debate benefits all parties and can only be done successfully when our unbiased leadership as a facilitator is universally recognized.
Finally, don’t be shy about sharing your professional assessments when you feel it would be helpful to the conversation. When sitting in a room full of experts in their respective fields, don’t forget that you’re one in yours. And if you’ve successfully established yourself as a source of unbiased information and objective facilitator of healthy debate, then your perspective can be impactful and welcomed.
True stewardship is grounded in the understanding that leadership is a temporary role that’s surpassed by an organization’s lifespan. As a leader, it’s your duty to embody that by actively preparing the organization for future vitality even when there are many opposing views.
In order to do that successfully however, it’s essential to communicate clearly and objectively.
