Candor The secret to succeeding at tough conversations

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.)