Candor: The Secret to Succeeding at Tough Conversations

by Charles Causey

Overview

Overcome the fear of speaking truth by learning to do it with love.

In a society where sensitivities take precedence over honesty, it can often feel impossible to openly speak your mind. From managing conflict resolution in the workplace to navigating differences at home, many issues remain unaddressed and unresolved when you cannot speak clearly, candidly, and truthfully for fear of negative consequences.

It’s time to learn how to speak the truth in love. In Candor, you’ll learn how truth and love together can unlock pathways to more effective leadership and relationships—even in a day and age when many remain silent for fear of speaking up. Discover how speaking with sensitive and effective candor can reshape your relationships and enable you to live a life of honesty and freedom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802420770
Publisher:	Moody Publishers
Publication date:	04/06/2021
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	1,102,648
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

CHARLES CAUSEY is a recipient of the Bronze Star for his military service in Iraq. He is the author of several books including Words and Deeds and Unbreakable: Forging a Marriage of Contentment and Delight. Married with four children, Charles graduated from the University of Colorado and holds several advanced degrees. He formerly served at the Pentagon as a senior army chaplain for the chief of chaplains in Washington, D.C., and is currently serving as a command chaplain in Honolulu, Hawaii. His website is www.causeybooks.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Emperor Has No Clothes 9

Chapter 1 Speak the Unspoken Truth 17

Chapter 2 Enemies of Candor 35

Chapter 3 Leaders and Meetings with Candor 51

Chapter 4 Candor in Families 71

Chapter 5 Blistering Honesty with Self 89

Chapter 6 The Indispensable Friendship Factor 103

Chapter 7 Candor with Difficult People 121

Chapter 8 Charm vs. Character 139

Epilogue: The Gift 155

Appendix A The 22 Strategies for Effective Candor 159

Appendix B The Eight Candor Commitments 163

Appendix C Discussion Questions for Groups 165

Acknowledgments 169

Notes 171

Editorial Reviews

01/18/2021

Army chaplain Causey (Words and Deeds) covers tactics needed to communicate honestly in this upbeat if uneven guide. Candor, Causey writes, can cause “cosmic discomfort,” but, the author argues, keeping the peace by keeping quiet can also mean matters never improve. To guide readers through the processes of formulating what to say and listening to another’s point of view, Causey lays out his 12 steps for getting a conversation from “charm to character,” which involve asking the other person to define the problem, staying patient, being wary of pride, and clarifying expectations. While many of Causey’s examples are plucked from the 1980s business world (such as a Motorola CEO championing a subordinate who questioned his business strategy), the quotes from famous figures (like Winston Churchill’s suggestion that, if you have enemies, then “you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life”) work well. The slender guide ends with its most effective section: an appendix listing “22 Strategies for Effective Candor,” such as “make it a point to engage difficult topics,” focus on results instead of risk, “attack the problem, not the personality,” and avoid superlatives and hyperbole. While business leaders and those who routinely find themselves at the negotiating table will find Causey’s tips most applicable, the fundamentals covered here will aid anyone looking to improve their communication skills. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly