Too often when we have a conflict or a complaint at work we either say nothing or say the wrong thing.  This book offers us a constructive third alternative.

The author, Richard S. Gallagher, calls it the CANDID approach. This acronym provides us with a strategy (Compartmentalize, Ask questions, Normalize, Discuss, Incentivize, and Disengage) for opening difficult conversations without putting other people on the defensive.

While Gallagher doesn’t claim it’s easy, defusing a difficult situation begins with listening to and understanding the other person’s point of view. This book provides you with a technique for talking through the kind of workplace conflicts that make us all cringe: employees who aren’t doing their fair share, coworkers who offend others with their personal habits, bosses who bully and the office rival who makes our workday miserable. It is recommended reading for anyone who’s ever regretted blurting out the “truth” or wished they could do something besides suffer in silence.

How to Tell Anyone Anything