Clear and Open

You can have your windows cleaned by a company called Absolutely Clear. But "Let's be absolutely clear about this ..."  is  most likely to come from a politician; and that's when we should be alert for muddying of waters.

Much valued by the managers is the word 'open'. Few words carry so much resonance across different shades of meaning, all usefully positive. And when they tell you, the public, that you (the public) specially value openness in the landscape, you find you've already started to nod.

Open gets used in the same way as clear. "We've been completely open about this" is one that's come up a few times and should be heard with the same degree of caution  as "I want to be absolutely clear .." A recent context is the deer cull. The "we've been completely open ..." claim has been made, but there's been no publicity, or press release. And one enquirer is told a different story to another.

They have the quaint idea it's good managerial practice to tailor your message to the person you're communicating with, not just the way you say it but the very facts.  Not so easy in public meetings of course. Which is why meetings are avoided whenever possible.