Government employees, as protectors of the public health, are required to communicate effectively. Working under time constraints, they must present the relevant issues and challenges of a situation and the proposed next steps. They need to speak succinctly and support their conclusions with evidence, so their words will not be misinterpreted. During a high energy, interactive session, Nancy Singer, a former prosecutor and defense attorney, will demonstrate how to prepare and describe an issue in 30 seconds using the “What – So What – Now What” pattern. She will also explain how to respond to a decision maker’s probing questions. After the presentation, attendees will be divided into teams and be given the opportunity to apply the concepts.

Participants Outcomes:

• Identify the traits that add to and detract from credibility
• Comprehend how to keep a decision maker engaged
• Create a succinct and substantive description of an issue and the proposed next steps
• Respond to difficult questions

This program covers topics in the Career Development track.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) covered in this session: Fundamental Competencies (Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication)

Nancy Singer, JD, LLM founded Compliance-Alliance LLC to specialize in professional development. She is on the faculty and teaches leadership at GW University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She is also a faculty member of FDA Staff College. Previously she served as Special Counsel for the Advanced Medical Technology Association. For her efforts to improve communication between the government and the regulated industry, Nancy received Vice President Gore’s Reinventing Government Hammer Award and the FDA Commissioner’s Special Citation. She began her career as an attorney with the Department of Justice. Subsequently, she was a partner at the law firm of Kleinfeld Kaplan and Becker. She is a retired commander in the Naval Reserve.