Finding Your T r u e C o l o r s

1. Finding YourTrueColors An exercise in self-awareness

2. TrueColors • We will study personality qualities tied to a color spectrum, it’s just simpler that way. • Blue • Gold • Orange • Green

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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 TrueColors

8. SurveyTime

9. TrueColors Survey says…

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

11. 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

12. 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 It’s about the lens through which you look

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. 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 It’s about the lens through which you look

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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 Strengths of the Orange

20. 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 It’s about the lens through which you look

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

22. 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

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

24. 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 It’s about the lens through which you look

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

26. Communication In TrueColors

27. 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

28. 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

29. #2 Pause and Pay Attention • Remove yourself from the “center spotlight” and consider the needs of the other people • Listen intently without over analyzing

30. #3 Learn from the past but avoid over generalizing • Just because someone is predominantly one color doesn’t meant that is the ONLY color they exhibit

31. #4 Look 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

32. #5 Give 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

33. #6 Keep 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

34. #7 Be 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

35. #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

36. TrueColors

38. 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 Blue communicates

40. 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 Gold communicates

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

44. 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 How Green communicates

45. TrueColors