A young businessman left employment as an actuarial director on Friday to accept a new position as an actuarial coach.
"It's a natural fit," Joe McDonald explained from home over the weekend. "In my former role people would constantly ask 'What types of actuarial directions do you give all day?'"
The images conjured up by the "director" label left friends, relatives and associates in a perplexing fog, he explained.
"Sure, occasionally I have to say things like 'Could you please give me an insurance-weighted net premium broken into five-year age bands.' But it's not like I'm some formula-spewing megaphone-toting mouthpiece in a beret."
In fact, he contends, the misleading term masks the skills of visioning, planning, training, encouraging and creative thinking that define the leadership spot most uniquely. The new title suits his strengths more aptly.
The lateral move surprised corporate management, since no such job exists.
"Coaching is an important part of the work," said Alan Barnum, without comment on the sequel-ish nature of his own Actuarial Director 2 title. "But his job hasn't changed."
Vice president Vernon Bailey agreed. "I'd wondered why he started hanging pennants in his office. It makes a little more sense now - but just a little."
Co-workers report hearing locker-room variety raving to phantom audiences behind McDonald's closed office door, and the occasional thrown chair.
"He's always been a man of action and shown a passion for teaching, so coach is a good term," said a subordinate speaking under condition of anonymity. "Though it's not like he's ever abused me like some red-faced dictator or anything, not physically."
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