Finding Your True Colors An exercise in self-awareness

True ColorsTrue Colors We will study personality qualities tied to a color spectrum, it’s just simpler that way. –Blue –Gold –Orange –Green

Caution: Labels Are Not Good You will find your color spectrum Often, you will be shades and variances of your colors You will exhibit traits of your dominant color but also your less dominant colors Knowing about you and about your coworkers is a huge asset

Sometimes… Our work forces us into an unnatural color so how we work with this and understand this makes us more flexible.

Complicating the spectrum… The way we process information and share information tends to blur the color lines sometimes –Some are introverted in their demeanor –Others are extroverted

As we examine our colors Remember that we are “shades” of the colors, for the most part The way we process and interact may be hampered by our introversion or our extroversion Introverts usually show their second color as a dominant color Extroverts go full force with their dominant color We may change the color in which we operate depending on the circumstances

Let’s figure this out Work your way through the survey and total the points When you have completed the work, take a quick break True ColorsTrue ColorsTrue ColorsTrue Colors

Survey Time

True ColorsTrue Colors Survey says…

The Blues among us… Caretaker Optimistic Passionate Enthusiastic Imaginative Cause Oriented True Romantic Need to be Unique Cooperative rather than Competitive People Oriented Peacemaker

Strengths of the Blues Accepting Act as a Catalyst Communicating Cooperating Counseling Creating Guiding Imagination Intuition Leading Listening Mentoring Motivating Optimism Recruiting Speaking Supportiveness Teaching Tolerance Training

It’s about the lens through which you look Others may see Blues as –Over-emotional –Mushy –Other-Worldly –Unrealistic –Too Tenderhearted –Wishy-washy –Smothering –Manipulative –Groveling –Bleeding Heart –Talking too much –Nosy Blues may see themselves as –Caring –Romantic –Spiritual –Having Faith –Nice –Flexible –Caretaker –Pleasant-not pushy –Polite –Willing to work tirelessly for a cause –Great Communicator –Genuinely interested in the welfare of others

Turn to a Blue for… Validation Cheering up A Confidant A Mentor Understanding Affects on People Help! Creative Ideas Training Leading a Human Needs Cause Sharing Affection A Friend

The Golds among us Loves to Plan Detail Oriented Punctual Strong Sense of Duty Belief in Policies Values Family Traditions Conscientious Conservative and Stable Well-Organized Strong “Shoulds and Should Nots” Most Comfortable in a Structured Environment

Strengths of the Golds Accounting Belonging Caretaking Collecting Data Contributing Coordinating Dispatching Family Following Directions Guarding Handing Details Organizing Planning Ahead Securing Supervising Work time THEN play time

It’s about the lens through which you look Others may see Golds as –Rigid –Restricted –Stubborn –Boring –Self Righteous –System-Bound –Unimaginative –Judgmental –Bossy –Uptight –Rigid Idea of Time –Married to Task Golds may see themselves as –Stable –Providing Security –Dependable –Firm –Knows What’s Best –Efficient –Realistic –Appropriate –Executive Type –Responsible –Punctual –Goal-Oriented

Turn to a Gold for… Planning Responsibility Supervision Trust Details The correct way to do something The Rules or Policies Accuracy Tradition Fairness If you need someone to be on time or enforce an agenda Organization

The Orange among us Energetic Desires Change Playful Master Negotiator Natural Entertainer Pushes Boundaries Accepts Challenges Impulsive and Spontaneous “Just Do It” Appreciates Immediate Feedback Most Productive in Non-Structured Environments Self-Confident

Strengths of the Orange Able to take charge Being the master of tools Carefree Dealing with chaos Determination Direct communicator Eclectic, diverse, changing Going with the situation Hands-on Keeping options open Living moment to moment Negotiating Proficient, capable Receptive to opportunities Risk-taking Trouble-shooting Welcomes new ideas

It’s about the lens through which you look Others may see Orange as –Rude –Irresponsible –Not serious –Selfish or self-centered –Ignoring the rules –Manipulative –Impatient –Easily distracted –Unprepared –Flirtatious –Taking advantage of others –Flaky Orange may see themselves as –Straightforward –Easy-going –Enjoying the process –Now-oriented –Productive Freedom –Good negotiator –Mover and Shaker –Multitasker –Spontaneous –Friendly –Succeeding –Flexible

Turn to an Orange for… Leadership Trouble-shooting Tasks requiring risk and chance Fun ideas Action Proficiency with tools Variety Negotiation Entertainment A good laugh Attention Straight Answers

The Green among us Problem-solver “Why” mentality Very complex Standard-setter Cool, calm, collected Intellectual Work is play and play is work Need for independence and private time Driven by Competence Perfectionist Analytical Approaches interpersonal relationships in a logical manner

Strengths of the Green Analyzing Conceptualizing Confidence Designing Determination Developing Diagnosing Intellectualizing Inventing Mapping Out Problem Solving Reasoning Technical know- how Thinking

It’s about the lens through which you look Others may see Green as –Intellectual snobs –Arrogant –Heartless –Unrealistic –Eccentric, Weird –Unfeeling –Anti-social –Cool, aloof –Sarcastic –Critical –Lacking mercy –Unappreciative Green may see themselves as –Knowledgeable –98% right –Expedient –Visionary –Innovative –Rational –Independent –Deep thinkers –Able to find flaws –Witty –Fair –Assume things will be done well

Turn to Green for… Ideas Information Competence Tenacity Firmness Objective Decision Making The Right Word Technology Critique To Learn To Get Something Fixed To Invent or Create Something

Communication In True Colors

Communication Across the Color Spectrum There are general rules to follow to assist in effectively communicating no matter the color! They make good sense and should be used by all

Ways to Open Lines of Communication Across the Spectrum #1Share True Colors with everyone! Knowing True Colors helps you understand the values, needs and actions of others It provides a nonjudgmental language base You can begin to see the uniqueness of perspective and truly appreciate others in your life in new ways

#2Pause and Pay Attention Remove yourself from the “center spotlight” and consider the needs of the other people Listen intently without over analyzing

#3Learn from the past but avoid over generalizing Just because someone is predominantly one color doesn’t meant that is the ONLY color they exhibit

#4Look for the positive intention behind the behavior When you dig deep enough you’ll find the positive behavior Standing firm for what is right is a positive aspiration People normally have a good reason to act the way they do

#5Give others the benefit of the doubt Just because someone isn’t communicating effectively at one time, doesn’t mean they never communicate effectively Sometimes a different approach is all that is necessary to set things on a better path

#6Keep experimenting—there is no such thing as failure, only results Every situation is useful Even results you aren’t satisfied with can yield assistance Notice what works and what doesn’t and take good notes

#7Be prepared to adapt Every successful interaction requires give and take Keep the other person’s “color” in mind when communicating Make their strengths work for you

#8Decide what is important to you –Is it important to know the styles of the other colors? Be aware of the other colors “touching” your life Open the lines of communication with “other colors” Keep their strengths in mind as you communicate with them

True ColorsTrue Colors

How Blue communicates Friendly Helpful Express emotion Optimistic Fosters harmony Empathetic Takes time to relate Creative Indirect Reads between the lines Personal Polite and compassionate unless personal values are violated Creative Indirect Reads between the lines Personal Polite and compassionate unless personal values are violated

How Gold communicates In writing for accuracy Purposeful Appropriate Topic Focused Loyal Predictable Chronological Detail Oriented Status Quo-the way we have always done it Judgments of right and wrong Closure, completion Accountable

How Orange communicates Confident Loud Casual Desire to speak in the moment “Now” oriented Quick Brief Straight forward In motion Flexible Varied Involved

How Green communicates Purposeful Private Logical Think before they speak Irritated at “stupid questions” Abhor redundancy Theoretical Like the big picture Love to share ideas Ask many questions Use big words Communicate with conviction Wry with a sense of humor

True ColorsTrue Colors