When I say “candid” I mean keeping it straightforward, short and simple. If people don’t understand what you’re saying, it is not their fault. It’s yours.

I am a believer in keeping conversations open and clear, eliminating the use of jargon and hidden meanings. The simpler the language, and the more straightforward the intent, the better people understand you and trust you.

Learning candor early

This approach comes from how I was brought up. As a youngster, my parents encouraged us to practice speaking our minds and keep our sentences short. They encouraged me to think about what I wanted to say, and if I was speaking with good purpose.

In a family, we don’t always get along. With my siblings, sometimes we had disagreements or even fought like all kids do. However, we learned from our parents to talk it out with each other candidly. We wouldn’t always agree or resolve our differences, but at least we knew how each other felt. It strengthened our bond.

Trust starts with straight talk

This is what I’ve practiced throughout my leadership journey across multiple companies. Those who’ve worked with me know that I’m a very straightforward person. “Tell it as it is,” I tell my teams. There’s no need to sugar-coat. I prefer to get the right facts, but spoken in a truthful, honest and sincere manner.

In every organization I’ve led, we were all friends and team members because we chose to come together to win for a higher purpose. You can’t choose your family members, but you can choose your friends and team members. So if anything, we had all made a personal commitment to be on that journey together.

Making room for real talk

I’ve always tried to set the example. Any team member could reach out to me directly in person or via email if they had something to say. There were no false walls or gatekeepers. And I appreciated a candid and frank conversation, even if I disagreed. But more often than not, I found myself inspired by colleagues who had ideas they’d been keeping to themselves.

We need to speak out and not be afraid. Don’t be afraid of people laughing at your idea or opinion, because the very fact you have one sets you apart from many others. Don’t be intimidated from reaching out to your boss. He or she may actually be really open to hearing your thoughts. And leaders need to learn to give our colleagues time to share their thoughts as well.

Why candor goes both ways

Here’s the thing: great things come from talking and sharing with each other. From inspiring one another and building on each other’s ideas. This all starts by us being candid and daring to say what’s on our mind.

The question isn’t whether candor is comfortable. It rarely is at first. The question is whether you’re willing to trade momentary discomfort for lasting trust and genuine connection. That’s where real teamwork begins. That’s where innovation happens. That’s where companies transform from groups of individuals into unified forces working toward a common goal.