Using colors as a

metaphor to understand
human characteristics,
 The Evolution of True Colors
400 B.C. In the 1920’s Carl
Hippocrates observed Jung noted that
that people have people fell into 4
1 of 4 humors or categories: feeling,
thinking, sensing, or
approaches to life
intuition

In the 1950’s Katherine Briggs and her

daughter Isabel Myers expanded In 1967 David
Jung’s research to include 16 Keirsey returned
personality types now called the Myers- to classifying
Briggs Type Indicator which is used in personality into 4
business, education and counseling. types.

Don Lowry studied the work of Keirsey and was astounded by the benefits that
resulted from recognizing personality types. He combined the work of past
researchers and created “True Colors”. He explored existing research on the
effects of color (green is calming, orange is stimulating. He chose colors that
resembled the personality characteristics they would be representing in 1978
What is the “True Colors” concept?

• Use 4 colors (gold, blue, orange, and

green) to identify 4 distinct
perspectives and personalities

• Most of us have a dominant color and

are influenced by the other 3 colors
 Card Sort
• Look at each card and arrange the cards from
the one most like you to the one least like you
(left to right).

• Turn the cards over and read the back of each

card. Again, arrange the cards from left to right
with the one on the left being most like you
(worth 4 points) to the one on the right being
least like you (1 point).

• Record points on True Colors Chart

GOLD
BLUE
GREEN
ORANGE
 Word Cluster Sort
• Working on one row at a time, rank each word cluster
group by assigning 4 points for the group of words
most like you, down to 1 point for the word least like
you.
• Total all the columns, including the card sort ranking.
Your highest score indicates your primary color
(brightest color) the lowest score represents the color
least like you.
• In case of a tie, look at the scores of the word sort to
break the tie.
• The highest score a for one color is 24, and the lowest
score is 6. The total score should add up to 60 points.
What is Your True Color Spectrum Today?
Active Organized Caring Curious
Variety Neat Helpful Computer

Fun Schedule Nice Private

Action Procedures People Questions

Playful Loyal Kind Independent

Adventure Dependable Giving Exploring

Competitive Follows rule Sharing Challenging

Rebellious Useful Gets along Puzzles

Exciting Traditional Easy Going Technology

Courageous Do right thing Friends Logical

Cards

TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL

ORANGE GOLD BLUE GREEN

 Spectrum of Colors
Identifies your color from “brightest to palest”
Primary Color: Your greatest need, is natural and
energizing, you must “do” or “be” the characteristic
Second Color: At ease with these characteristics
Third Color: Is not natural, you may need some help,
requires energy
Fourth Color: Don’t understand characteristics,
makes no sense, drains your energy, feels awkward
 Activity
• Divide into 4 color groups
• In group discuss the following questions
(RECORD ONLY THOSE RESPONSES THAT APPLY
TO EVERYONE IN GROUP):
A. Strengths:What are you good at?
B. Values: What is important to you?
C. Needs/Stressors: What do you need and what
stresses you out?
• Report out
• No color-bashing!
 Core Needs and Values
GOLD
The Guardian - Security Seeking

DUTY AND
RESPONSIBILITY
 GOLD ATTRIBUTES
•Prepared
•Loves to plan
•Detail and service oriented
•Values family traditions
•Helpful and trustworthy
•Conservative and stable
•Strives for a sense of security
•Punctual, predictable, precise
•Loyal, Useful, responsible
•Right way to do everything
•Tends to be left-brained and analytical
•Strong belief in policies, procedures, rules
•Most comfortable with a formal environment
 The Cause of Stress for GOLD
• Incomplete tasks
• Disorganization
• Irresponsibility
• Changing details
• Lack of direction
• Ambiguous tasks
• Non-Conformity
• Lack of structure
• Haphazard attitude
• Too many things going on at once
• People who don’t follow through
Others may see Gold as: Gold may see self as:
• Rigid • Stable, Dependable
• Dull, boring • Providing security
• Stubborn • Firm
• Opinionated • Efficient and Decisive
• Judgmental • Realistic
• Bossy, controlling • Good planner
• Uptight • Orderly, neat
• Predictable • Organized, Punctual
• Unimaginative
• Goal oriented
 Core Needs and Values
GREEN
The Rational - Knowledge Seeking

INTELLECTUAL COMPETENCE
(INFORMATION AND
KNOWLEDGE)
 GREEN ATTRIBUTES
▪ Asks why?
▪ Idea person
▪ Perfectionists
▪ Approaches interpersonal relationships in
logical manner
▪ Needs independence and private time
▪ Knows how to spell and pronounce “big”
words
▪ Explores all facets before making decisions
▪ Abstract, conceptual, global
▪ Can never know enough
▪ Cool, calm, and collected
 The Causes of Stress for Green:
▪ Lack of recognition of their ability
▪ Elaborate use of adjectives
▪ Not being in charge
▪ Lack of independence
▪ Subjective judgment
▪ Emotional displays
▪ Incompetence
▪ Small talk
▪ Routine
▪ Social functions
Others may see Green as: Green may see self as:
▪ Intellectual ▪ Superior intellect
▪ Doesn’t care about ▪ 98% Right
people and is ruthless ▪ Powerful
▪ Unrealistic ▪ Creative and visionary
▪ Emotionally controlled ▪ Original
▪ Cool, aloof, unfeeling ▪ Rational
▪ Afraid to open up ▪ Calm, not emotional
▪ Critical, fault finding ▪ Under control
▪ Devaluing relational ▪ Precise, not repetitive
aspects ▪ Able to find flaws
▪ Lacking mercy, unfair ▪ Objective
▪ Unappreciative of others ▪ Seeking justice
and stingy with praise ▪ Firm-minded
▪ Able to reprimand
 Core Needs and Values
BLUE
The Idealist - Identity Seeking

RELATIONSHIPS AND
A SENSE OF HARMONY
 BLUE ATTRIBUTES
• Mediators
• Optimistic
• Caretakers
• Passionate
• Peacemakers /Cause oriented
• Always a kind word
• Romance
• Strong sense of spirituality
• Sensitive to needs of others
• Peace, harmony, relationships
• Motivate and encourage others
• Cooperative rather than competitive
 The Causes of Stress for Blue:
• Broken promises and negativity
• Not being involved and lack of social contact
• Too much conformity
• Clock watching
• Being compared to others
• Conflict
• Lying
• Rejection
• Insincerity
• Placing the “system” before people
Others may see Blue as: Blue may see self as:
• Overly emotional • Warm/ compassionate
• Mushy/touchy-feely • Romantic
• Naïve • Spiritual and idealistic
• Tender hearted • Willing to work tirelessly
• Too nice and •Unselfish
trusting •Caretaker
• Smothering •Empathetic
• Lives in the past •Likes people
• Talks too much •Sympathetic
• Pushover •Great communicator
 Core Needs and Values
ORANGE
The Artisan - Stimulation Seeking

FREEDOM AND ACTION

 ORANGE ATTRIBUTES
• Natural and non-conformist
• Thrives on competition
• Playful • Likes tangible rewards
• Energetic • Impulsive and spontaneous
• Charming • Appreciates immediate feedback
• Risk taker • Tends to be left/right brain integrated
• “Just Do It” • Most productive in informal environments
• Tests limits
• Quick witted
• Master negotiator
• Creative, inventive
• “Let’s make a deal”
• A natural entertainer
• High need for mobility
• Visual and kinesthetic
• Pushes the boundaries
 The Causes of Stress for Orange
• Too much responsibility
• Rules & regulations
• Being stuck at a desk
• Reading manuals
• Imposed structure
• Repetition and routine
• Personal criticism
• Deadlines
• Inactivity
• Following detailed directions
• Lack of Fun and lack of variety
Others may see Orange as: Orange may see self as:
• Irresponsible • Fun-loving, enjoys life
• Goofs off too much • Spontaneous/carefree
• Disobeys rules • Flexible, adaptable
• Manipulative • Hands-on person
• Scattered/Cluttered • Practical
• Uncontrollable • Problem-solver
• Indecisive •Good negotiator
• Obnoxious •Do many things at once
• Not able to stay on task •Can deal with chaos
• Not to be trusted
 To Clarify
● There is no “one size fits all” that puts every single
personality into a box. Every person responds to
situation in their own way. It’s important to understand
one another as individuals.
● Similarly, everyone acts differently
in separate environments. You
may be Gold at work and a Blue
at home.
 Color Statistics in Business

Entry Level Middle Managers

Personnel (N=1,320) (N=4,789)

–Blue (NF) 13% –Blue (NF) 6%

–Green (NT) 9% –Green (NT) 29.2%
–Gold (SJ) 51% –Gold SJ) 54.9%
–Orange (SP) 27% –Orange (SP) 9.6%
 Color Statistics in Business

Upper Management Executives

(N=5,300) (N=2,245)

–Blue (NF) 3.6% –Blue (NF) 2.1%

–Green (NT) 29.2% –Green (NT) 31.8%
–Gold (SJ) 46.8% –Gold (SJ) 61.5%
–Orange (SP) 7.0% –Orange (SP) 4.6%
Color Statistics in Business

Trainers & Educational

Specialist (N=2,951)

–Blue (NF) 40%

–Green (NT) 31%
–Gold (SJ) 25%
–Orange (SP) 5.0%
Any Questions?
 Scenario

You have an assignment due for Career Mentorship that requires your mentor’s help. You
emailed your mentor asking for their help on an assignment for Career Mentorship.
 SCENARIO

The Leaders in Action group at Suburban High School spends an immense amount of time
during the year facilitating significant projects for the student body, many of which require
a great deal of money that was raised by those same students. The students are selected
to sit on the committee each spring semester to serve for the following year. It is an honor
to serve on the committee and involves a spirited election process from the student body.

Liam is the Leaders in Action Student Treasurer, and serves as the chairperson to the
Funding Committee. He has devoted a large portion of Fall Semester notifying other
committee members of their responsibilities. This will be his 4th year on the committee
and he has always had a great group of classmates to work with. Nevertheless, Liam is
facing a challenge. Two of his committee members, Tina and Josh, have been rarely
attending meetings and have neglected to attend the leadership training sessions required
of all members. He has contacted both of them by email and phone to see about
rescheduling a smaller training session for them but he has not heard back from either of
them.

Continued . . .
 Scenario Continued . . .

Yesterday Liam bumped into Tina at school. She apologized that she had missed the
training and that she would prepare for next Tuesday’s meeting. Liam told Tina he
would put the materials she needs for the next meeting, in her mailbox in the Student
Leadership Room and asked her to prepare an activity for the next meeting.

When Tuesday arrives, Liam goes into the office prior to the meeting and notices both
Tina and Josh’s mailboxes still contain the information for that day’s meeting, leading
Liam to assume that neither one of them read the proposal information nor would be
prepared for the meeting.

Liam is uncertain how to proceed. The committee requires a substantial dedication from
the members as they are managing thousands of dollars raised by the student body.
However, the positions are elected, so Liam has little authority over individual
committee members’ performance. This is a first for him and he doesn’t have an idea
on what to do.
Continued . . .