--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking…" description: "\"Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking about boldface lying, but a tendency to withhold information. That behavior is far more common, and it frustra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/jack-welch-1195_behavior_take-lack-of-candor-i-m-not-talking-abou_21064.png" --- # Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking about boldface… ![“Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking about boldface lying, but a tendency to withhold information. That behavior is far more common, and it frustrates teams and bosses to no end.” quote by Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/jack-welch-1195_behavior_take-lack-of-candor-i-m-not-talking-abou_21064.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/jack-welch-1195_behavior_take-lack-of-candor-i-m-not-talking-abou_21064.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/jack-welch-1195_behavior_take-lack-of-candor-i-m-not-talking-abou_21064.png) > “Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking about boldface lying, but a tendency to withhold information. That behavior is far more common, and it frustrates teams and bosses to no end.” [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Withholding information erodes trust and hampers decision‑making, often more damaging than outright lies. **In simple terms:** Silence kills collaboration. Key Takeaway Transparency is essential for effective teams. Themes trust communication leadership team dynamics honesty Mood frustration caution determination Type advice observation cautionary When to use this quote - team meetings - project planning - performance reviews - crisis management Key Concepts information flow organizational culture Practical Applications - leadership training - organizational audits Questions to Reflect On - How does silence affect team morale? - When is withholding information justified? A Different Perspective Sometimes strategic discretion is necessary to protect sensitive data or competitive advantage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Boldface Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boldface-lying-397272/) [Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) [Candor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candor/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information/) [Lack Candor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-candor-397273/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Lying Tendency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying-tendency-397275/) [Not talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-talking/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Talking Boldface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-boldface-397274/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Tendencies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tendencies/) ## Related quotes > [Lack of candor blocks smart ideas, fast action, and good people contributing all the stuff they've got. It's a killer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/lack-of-candor-blocks-smart-ideas-fast-action-and-good-people/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Candor is the key to collaborating effectively. Lack of candor leads to dysfunctional environments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/candor-is-the-key-to-collaborating-effectively-lack-of-candor-leads/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [“A hallmark of a healthy creative culture is that its people feel free to share ideas, opinions, and criticisms. Lack of candor, if unchecked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/a-hallmark-of-a-healthy-creative-culture-is-that-its-people-feel-free/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [If you reward candor, you'll get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/if-you-reward-candor-you-ll-get-it/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [My bosses cautioned me about my candor. Now my GE career is over, and I'm telling you that it was my candor that helped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/my-bosses-cautioned-me-about-my-candor-now-my-ge-career-is-over-and-i/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Getting candor right - with your reports, your peers, and your boss - is a skill that can make or break your career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/getting-candor-right-with-your-reports-your-peers-and-your-boss-is-a/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [“He is the kind of person I should expect to rescue one from a mad dog at any risk but then insist on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/he-is-the-kind-of-person-i-should-expect-to-rescue-one-from-a-mad-dog/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [Yet if strict criticism should till frown on our method, let candor and good humor forgive what is done to the best of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-fielding/yet-if-strict-criticism-should-till-frown-on-our-method-let-candor/) [Sarah Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-fielding/) > [Michelle Alexander's brave and bold new book paints a haunting picture in which dreary felon garb, post-prison joblessness, and loss of voting rights now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lani-guinier/michelle-alexander-s-brave-and-bold-new-book-paints-a-haunting/) [Lani Guinier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lani-guinier/) > [Jennifer Fulwiler's story of finding God when you aren't looking for Him is a universal tale which will touch many hearts. With warmth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-arroyo/jennifer-fulwiler-s-story-of-finding-god-when-you-aren-t-looking-for/) [Raymond Arroyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-arroyo/) > [And he’s right to say that every faction loses something when it gains a virtue: the Dauntless, brave but cruel; the Erudite, intelligent but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-he-s-right-to-say-that-every-faction-loses-something-when-it/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Honesty is always the best policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/honesty-is-always-the-best-policy/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Truth is a risky proposition. It's the nature of mediocre human beings to believe that lies are necessary, that they serve a purpose, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/truth-is-a-risky-proposition-it-s-the-nature-of-mediocre-human-beings/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [“I struggle to keep my hard, expressionless mask in place. The doctor's most powerful weapon has always been his particular brand of brutal honesty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-terrill/i-struggle-to-keep-my-hard-expressionless-mask-in-place-the-doctor-s/) [Cristin Terrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-terrill/) > [I have to declare in all candor that no one interested in being published in our time can afford to be so naive as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-curtis/i-have-to-declare-in-all-candor-that-no-one-interested-in-being/) [Richard Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-curtis/) ## More by Jack Welch > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [I think the move by Mr. Greenspan was welcomed by everyone here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/i-think-the-move-by-mr-greenspan-was-welcomed-by-everyone-here/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Failing to differentiate among employees — and holding on to bottom-tier performers — is actually the cruelest form of management there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/failing-to-differentiate-among-employees-and-holding-on-to-bottom/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [We know where most of the creativity, the innovation, the stuff that drives productivity lies - in the minds of those closest to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/we-know-where-most-of-the-creativity-the-innovation-the-stuff-that/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Simple messages travel faster, simpler designs reach the market faster and the elimination of clutter allows faster decision making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/simple-messages-travel-faster-simpler-designs-reach-the-market-faster/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [So every time you think about your work-life balance issue, remember what your boss is thinking about - and that's winning. Your needs may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/so-every-time-you-think-about-your-work-life-balance-issue-remember/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Wright is a visionary with a great strategic mind, and he's a strong business leader with outstanding people skills, ... He's a terrific guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/wright-is-a-visionary-with-a-great-strategic-mind-and-he-s-a-strong/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [In order to lead a country or a company, you've got to get everybody on the same page and you've got to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/in-order-to-lead-a-country-or-a-company-you-ve-got-to-get-everybody/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Real communication is an attitude, an environment. It is the most interactive of all processes. It requires countless hours of eyeball to eyeball, back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/real-communication-is-an-attitude-an-environment-it-is-the-most/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [No one is doing something in your business - getting a sale, having a key customer, working on an R&D project - doing anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/no-one-is-doing-something-in-your-business-getting-a-sale-having-a/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Some people have better ideas than others; some are smarter or more experienced or more creative. But everyone should be heard and respected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/some-people-have-better-ideas-than-others-some-are-smarter-or-more/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [ Innovation is not a big breakthrough invention every time. Innovation is a constant thing. But if you don't have an innovative company \[team\], coming… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/innovation-is-not-a-big-breakthrough-invention-every-time-innovation/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Shareholder value is a result, not a strategy . . . Your main constituencies are your employees, your customers and your products.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/shareholder-value-is-a-result-not-a-strategy-your-main-constituencies/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [The essence of competitiveness is liberated when we make people believe that what they think and do is important - and then get out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/the-essence-of-competitiveness-is-liberated-when-we-make-people/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/face-reality-as-it-is-not-as-it-was-or-as-you-wish-it-to-be/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) [Explore all 275 Jack Welch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) ## More Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) [Burne Hogarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burne-hogarth/) > [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) [J. 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Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 4,218 Behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking about boldface lying, but a tendency to withhold information. 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