Candid: Characterized by openness and sincerity of expression; unreservedly straightforward Candid is derived from the Latin word candidus

meaning to shine or glow, When someone offers a candid opinion, that person is not hiding behind any kind of mask or faade--a candid person is open and honest. Sentence : We need to have a candid conversation about the state of our company and discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Importance of being candid

We all aspire to be straightforward with our clients by clearly stating what we want to say rather than speaking in generalities (and hoping the listener understands what we mean). This level of directness is captured in a number of common expressions: Tell it like it is. Level with me. Put your cards on the table. Be a straight shooter. Given our desire to be trusted advisors, it would seem obvious that directness is a key element in any change practitioners communication toolbox. To the contrary, professional change facilitators often pull their punches (e.g., fail to pursue a sensitive topic, give tough feedback, or engage in necessary explicit conversations with clients). There are a number of possible reasons for this. Here are some examples:

The practitioner may not want to be seen as the bearer of bad news. He or she may wish to avoid any negative emotional reaction from the listener.

He or she may fear it would cause distance in the relationship. The agent may think he or she is speaking openly, but is actually using words and phrases that, in the listeners FOR, soften, obscure, or otherwise weaken the message. Frankness does not always mean bluntness. This depends, of course, on the relationship you have with the listener, the culture in which you are operating, and/or the context in which you are delivering your message. Many cultures value indirectness as a way of allowing people to save face and preserve harmonyits important to be aware of and respect these preferences. However, the goal of communicating clearly and unambiguously does not change. Your challenge is to know precisely what you want to convey and then to select the words, tone, and affect carefully to ensure that your listener gets the essence or the importance of your message. When we are not being frank and straightforward, we are likely to: Avoid raising uncomfortable or tough topics, Spin messages so they seem less negative than they really are, Omit critical information, and Craft messages to fit what we think the listener wants to hear.

When we are being frank and straightforward, we will:

Take the time to identify the most critical things the listener needs to know, Communicate tough messages with honesty and compassion, Build trust by providing accurate, valuable information about whats really going on, and Acknowledge strengths and opportunities as well as problems.