Finding Your True Colors

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Finding Your True Colors

• An exercise in awareness

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True Colors

• A way of categorizing and then understanding
  human behavior
• Hippocrates did it with the four humors or the
  four approaches to life
• Melancholic
• Choleric
• Phlegmatic
• Sanguine

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• The 1920s brought about a new look to
  classifying human behavior
• Carl Jung found another four
• Feeling
• Thinking
• Sensation
• Intuition

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• Then Katherine Briggs and her daughter Isabel
  Myers researched Jungs work in the 1950s and
  expanded it to include 16 different
  classifications based on combinations of Jungs
  work.
• Their work was used extensively for personal and
  professional growth in the following areas
• Business
• Education
• Counseling

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• David Keirsey and his publishing partner Marilyn
  Bates returned to four classifications in 1967
  with their work Please Understand Me.
• Apollonian
• Promethean
• Epimethean
• Dionysian

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and then True Colors

• Don Lowry set about studying personality
  qualities tied to the color spectrum (good as
  gold, true blue friend) and developed four
  classifications
• Blue
• Gold
• Orange
• Green

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The Method

• Lowry was always fascinated with personality
  types (second oldest of ten children and marveled
  at the differences between his siblings who all
  shared the same parents)
• Lowry explored existing research on the influence
  of color
• Calming effect of greens
• Stimulating effect of oranges
• He carefully chose four dominant colors to
  represent his four main personality types

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The Madness

• Originally, Lowry produced four playing cards,
  one tied to each of his four colors
• After participants decided on their color
  spectrum, he wrote a humorous dramatic production
  playing out the four dominant personality types
• As a more directed approach to the information, a
  short questionnaire may also be used, but the
  preferred way is to simply personally determine
  your color spectrum

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The Progress

• It is now possible to determine your color
  spectrum for different areas
• Personal life-interactions with others
• Professional life
• Student learning style
• Leadership style

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The Process

• Participants may each have a set of cards and
  spend time reading the information and then
  aligning the colors in the spectrum that best
  fits themselves
• Participants may also take a quick survey and
  determine their color spectrum based on numbers
• Comparison of the two yields similar results
• Notethere are times when your spectrum changes,
  depending on the situation

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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

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Sometimes

• Our work forces us into an unnatural color for us
• Teachers who have to enforce rules and
  regulations all day at school may really be more
  haphazard and creative than they are allowed
• Someone tied to exact work all day in a lab
  setting may really be an artist or a visionary in
  their personal life
• Duality and plurality of colors is completely
  natural and normal

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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

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What to watch for

• Introverts
• Process internally before sharing
• Explore options independently
• Avoid attention especially from strangers
• Pause and think before speaking
• Inwardly focus and ponder
• Seek solo, intimate experiences with select
  individuals
• Pursue depth of experiences

• Extroverts
• Think and process out loud
• Prefer to bounce ideas off others
• Enjoy attention from others
• Speak readily in many situations
• Outwardly focus on surroundings
• Seek activities involving many people
• Pursue breadth of experiences

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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

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Lets figure this out

• Work your way through the survey and total the
  points
• When you have completed the work, take a quick
  break

True Colors
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Survey Time

• Remember to break when finished

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True Colors

• Survey says

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The Blues among us

• Caretaker
• Optimistic
• Passionate
• Enthusiastic
• Imaginative
• Cause Oriented
• True Romantic
• Need to be Unique
• Cooperative rather than Competitive
• People Oriented
• Peacemaker

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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

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Its 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

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Relating to Blues

• You must know that a Blue may well be the best
  friend you ever have
• They will stick with you through thick and thin
• They will often set aside their own priorities to
  help you
• They seem to do well with the other colors
• Blues typically relate well to each other
• They like the predictable nature and structure of
  Golds
• The enjoy the imaginative and intellectual side
  of Greens
• They take pleasure in the entertainment provided
  by Oranges
• They may struggle with other colors because
• Blues can be too emotional and wishy-washy
• Golds can be too structured and detail oriented
• Greens can be too innovative
• Oranges can be too impulsive and carefree

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How to support the Blues

• Maintain a pleasant and welcoming environment
• Point out how others will benefit
• Understand their emotional zeal
• Grant opportunities for personal growth
• Give individual attention

• With Blues Be
• Caring
• Communicative
• Humanistic
• Nice
• Open
• People-oriented
• Personal
• Respectful of their feelings
• Sincere
• approachable

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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

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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

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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

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Its 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 Whats Best
• Efficient
• Realistic
• Appropriate
• Executive Type
• Responsible
• Punctual
• Goal-Oriented

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Relating to Golds

• They desire to interact in a respectful and
  responsible way
• They relate well to the other colors in that
• Golds provide the structure they crave
• Blues who are supportive
• Greens who are knowledgeable and inventive
• Oranges who are optimistic and resourceful
• They may struggle with other colors because
• Golds can be rigid and unyielding
• Blues can be emotional
• Greens can be too innovative
• Oranges can be too impulsive

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How to support the Golds

• Count on them
• Appeal to their strong sense of right and wrong
• Be mindful of your use of resources
• Offer opportunities for expression of traditional
  values
• Show how much you value their efforts

• With Golds be
• Accurate
• Consistent
• Rule-abiding
• Fair
• Organized
• Thorough
• Reverent of traditions
• Respectful
• Reliable
• Conscientious

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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

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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

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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

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Its 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

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Relating to Orange

• Oranges want to engage others in mutual,
  fun-loving ways
• They are naturally drawn to the energy of other
  Oranges
• Friendly Blues are appreciated
• They enjoy the innovation of Greens
• They appreciate Golds who are productive and
  goal-oriented
• They will struggle with
• The impulsive nature of other Oranges
• The emotion and conversation of Blues
• The analytical method of Greens
• The structure and policy obedience of Golds

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If you want Oranges to go along with your ideas,
make sure they are a part of the decision-making
process

• Expect some spice
• Understand their impulse to take each moment as
  it comes
• Allow them to show off their skills without
  condemning them for the process
• Avoid slowing them down when they are on a quest

• With Oranges be
• Dynamic
• Clear and direct
• Confident
• Entertaining
• Flexible
• Open-minded
• Skillful
• Spontaneous
• Ready for change
• Energetic

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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

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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

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Strengths of the Green

• Analyzing
• Conceptualizing
• Confidence
• Designing
• Determination
• Developing
• Diagnosing
• Intellectualizing

• Inventing
• Mapping Out
• Problem Solving
• Reasoning
• Technical know-how
• Thinking

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Its 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

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Relating to Green

• Greens seek to express themselves through their
  ability to be competent in everything they do.
• Greens sometimes get lost in their own world
• They relate well to
• Like-minded Greens
• Creative Blues
• Helpful Golds with structure
• Resourceful Oranges
• They will struggle with
• Greens with a differing opinion
• Blues who are emotional
• Golds too tied to policy
• Just about anything Orange

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Supporting Greens

• Honor their need for privacy
• Understand their necessity to question your
  knowledge and facts
• Realize they too have feelings
• Appreciate their varied interests
• Encourage and reward achievement by commenting on
  their creativity and competence

• With Greens be
• Rational
• Precise
• Ready for questions
• Prepared to give facts
• Analytical
• Encouraging
• Focused
• Logical
• Objective
• Open-minded

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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

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Communication

• In True Colors

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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

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Ways to Open Lines of Communication Across the
Spectrum

• 1 Share 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

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

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• 3 Learn from the past but avoid over
  generalizing
• Just because someone is predominantly one color
  doesnt meant that is the ONLY color they exhibit
• Consider occasional occurrences versus
  patterns of behavior

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• 4 Look for the positive intention behind the
  behavior
• When you dig deep enough youll 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

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• 5 Give others the benefit of the doubt
• Just because someone isnt communicating
  effectively at one time, doesnt mean they never
  communicate effectively
• Sometimes a different approach is all that is
  necessary to set things on a better path

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• 6 Keep experimentingthere is no such thing as
  failure, only results
• Every situation is useful
• Even results you arent satisfied with can yield
  assistance
• Notice what works and what doesnt and take good
  notes

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• 7 Be prepared to adapt
• Every successful interaction requires give and
  take
• Keep the other persons color in mind when
  communicating
• Make their strengths work for you

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• 8 Decide 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

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True Colors
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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

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Tips for communicating with Blue

• Acknowledge them
• Let them know you care
• Recognize their contributions
• Pay attention to congruency
• Include them
• Have patience
• Listen for feelings
• Let them share what they know
• Hear them out
• Show appreciation
• Use gestures of friendship
• Be tactful when offering feedback

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If you are Blue

• Practice objectivity
• Add NO to your vocabulary
• Speak uplet your needs be known
• Recognize the difference between politeness and
  difference
• Seek multiple avenues for yourself

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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

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Tips for communicating with Gold

• Be specific
• Outline priorities
• Plan ahead
• Stay on target
• Save surprises and novelty
• Dont interrupt them
• Apologize when appropriate
• Appeal to their strong sense of right and wrong
• Acknowledge their hard work
• Maintain composure
• Be consistent
• Recognize their contributions

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If you are Gold

• Have patience
• Consider other options
• Practice peripheral listening (get the big
  picture)
• Accept others
• Give it a break (you dont manage the world, you
  know!)

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How Orange communicates

• Confident
• Loud
• Casual
• Desire to speak in the moment
• Now oriented
• Quick

• Brief
• Straight forward
• In motion
• Flexible
• Varied
• Involved

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Tips for communicating with Orange

• Be prepared to listen for straight content
• Lighten up
• Use sound bites
• Match their speed
• Move with them
• Appreciate their flair
• Give them an audience
• Offer options
• Make it a challenge
• Recognize their contributions

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If you are Orange

• Be aware of how you are coming across
• Wait for a response before proceeding
• Identify others requirements
• Notice when you are exaggerating
• When listening to others, keep your mind focused
• Pause before making a commitment
• Recognize others
• Use softeners when making requests or giving
  direction
• Make a decision and stick to it
• FIND OTHER ORANGESyou need them

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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 sense of humor

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Tips for communicating with Green

• Give them time to think
• Dont misinterpret their need for information for
  anything else
• Give the big picture
• Stick to logic
• Watch your vocabulary (they will know the big
  wordsdo you?)
• Notice their humor
• Debate with them for fun
• Speak for a purpose
• Understand and heed
• Recognize their contributions

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If you are Green

• Add some detailor not (know when to expand and
  compact)
• Ease up
• Allow emotions
• Pay attention to the other peoples needs
• Learn to listen without fixing
• Acknowledge intent others
• Save the debate
• Make time for your relationships
• Inform others

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True Colors