What are your

True Colors?
How to Play Well with Others
In a survey of 20,000 CEO’s, the following
were their top ten picks of the most
important qualities of effective, productive
employees:
10. Creative (15%)
9. Initiative (16%)
8. Humor (16%)
7. Self-motivated (22%)
6. Intelligent (26%)
5. Hard working (27%)
4. Curious (35%)
3. Honest (36%)
2. Team oriented (38%)
1. ETHICAL (49%)
The top 2 qualities: ethical
and
TEAM ORIENTED!!!!

Many business owners

say they need
employees with
communication skills
and interpersonal skills!
“It’s easy to get the
players. Getting
them to play
together, that’s
the hard part.”
- Baseball Legend
Casey Stengel
 Color Connotations and
How this Method Works
• What feelings and • Blue
emotions do you • Gold
associate with the • Orange
following colors?
• Green
• What benefits are
there to taking
personality tests?
 Your True Colors Test
• Look at each row of horizontal categories of words. Rank the
4 categories from 1 to 4 (4 being most like you and 1 least
like you).
• Go on to the next horizontal line of categories and do the
same.
• Be cautious and make sure you rank these according to who
you truly feel you are rather than who you would like to be.
• Using the letter formula at the bottom, add up the specified
letters.
• Remember the purpose: this is not to stereotype people; this
is to identify commonalities and differences, which will then
help us collaborate and expand possibilities.
 The Analysis
1. Your primary and most dominant: the characteristics listed
for this number one spot indicate the ones you feel most
comfortable operating with. These are the attributes you use
when you are truly being yourself.
2. Your second color has a major influence on the first. In some
cases, it shines as brightly as your dominant color.
3. This one does not make as much of an impact. Sorry, “third”!
4. Because these characteristics are least natural to you, you
may admire them in others. Or, on the contrary, because
they are the least natural, chances are that they are also the
least understood, and therefore they are the characteristics
that cause the most conflict with others. People often
condemn what they themselves lack.
 The Results

• A, H, K, N, S = ORANGE
• B, G, I, M, T = GOLD
• C, F, J, O, R = BLUE
• D, E, L, P, Q = GREEN
 BLUE
Whatever Blues decide to do with their
lives, it must involve people!
• Caretaker • True romantic
• Optimistic • Need to be unique
• Cooperative rather
• Passionate than competitive
• Enthusiastic • Strong sense of
• Imaginative spirituality
• Cause oriented • People oriented
• Peacemaker
 Communicating with the
Blue
• When Blues listen,
they focus on more • Blues may portray the
than words. opposite of what they
• Your message will not are feeling.
get through fully to a • Blues get frustrated at
Blue if a relationship the insincerity of the,
is not first “Hey, how are you?”
ritual.
established.
• Blues are saying right
• Blues don’t want to now, “This is so cool! I
let anyone down, so love how this will help
we should be wary of me relate to other
overwhelming them. people!”
 The World vs. Blue
Creating STRESS for
Blues…
- broken promises
- Too much negative criticism
- Deception
- Not discussing what is occurring
- Completing paperwork as a priority
- Clock-watching
- Conflict
- Placing the “system” as a priority
above people
- Being constantly compared to others
and not evaluated as an individual
- Too much conformity without outlets
for individual expression
Succeeding with the Blues…
- Spend quality time one-on-one
with them
- Be aware that they wear their
heart on their sleeve
- Listen to them as they listen to
you
- Be supportive
- Share your thoughts and
feelings
- Praise their creativity
 Good as Gold
• Prepared • Belief in policies
• Loves to plan • Values traditions
• Detail-oriented • Conscientious
• Punctual • Conservative and
• Strong sense of stable
duty
• Well-organized
• Most comfortable
with a structured • Strong “shoulds”
environment and “should nots”
 Communicating with
Golds
• Golds can come across
as businesslike.
• In conversation, they
want structure.
• “Can we do it the way
we have always done
it?”
• Golds listen for details.
• Golds are thinking
right now, “Slow
down! I am still writing
notes on Blues!”
 The World vs. Gold
Creating stress for Golds…

- Incomplete/ambiguous Succeeding with Golds…

tasks/answers - Remember to be on time
- Disorganization - Try to be extra efficient
- Too many things going on and organized
at one time - They are generous but
- Waste like things to be returned
- Non-conformity - Do what you say you will
- Changing details do
- Haphazard attitude - Be dependable and loyal
- Lack of - Respect their need for
structure/direction security
 Just do it! ORANGE
• Extroverted Orange:
Tigger (everyone
knows when he is
around and very little
stresses him out)
• Introverted Orange:
Winnie the Pooh
(goes with the flow
and only major
concern is HONEY!)
OUTRAGEOUS ORANGE
• Energetic • Accepts challenges
• • Impulsive
Desires change
• Spontaneous
• Playful
• “Just do it!”
• Master navigator • Appreciates
• Natural entertainer immediate feedback
• Pushes boundaries • Most productive in
non-structured
environments
 Communicating with
Oranges
• Oranges are confident,
loud, and casual
• They want forthright
• “Now” oriented communication
• Oranges listen for • They are trying to
entertainment, accomplish a goal with all
communication
usefulness, and
• When talking to an
relevance Orange, capture your
• They are constantly information into bite-size
looking for opportunities pieces
• Give Oranges choices and
ask for their suggestions
 The World vs. Orange
Creating Stress for
Oranges…
- Too much responsibility Succeeding with the
- Redundancy Orange…
- Deadlines - Be active and don’t slow
- Rules and regulations them down!
- Be spontaneous and fun
- Being stuck at a desk
- Compete in fun when
- “how to” directions
appropriate
- Too much attention to
- Be adventuresome and
product and not enough
to performance/results optimistic
- Abstract concepts - Be energetic and ready to
go!
 Feelin’ Green
• Problem-solver • Intellectual
• • Work is play and
“Why” mentality
play is work
• Very complex • Need for
• Standard-setter independence and
• Cool, calm, collected private time
• Approaches • Driven by
interpersonal competence
relationships in a • Perfectionist
logical manner • Analytical
 Communicating with
Greens
• Greens usually don’t
show emotion.
• Greens communicate for • When talking to a
the purpose of gaining Green, be prepared
or sharing information. to defend your
• Their favorite line is, position!
“And your point is?” • Greens are thinking,
• Greens listen for “How will this help
information and want to me with people,
know the purpose for again? I don’t need
that particular help with people.
communication. Why would I?”
 The World vs. Greens
Creating stress for Greens…
- Not being in charge
- Lack of independence
- Elaborate use of
adjectives
- Incompetence
- Emotional displays
- Lack of options
- Inability to use or display
knowledge
- Small talk
- Routine
- Social functions
Succeeding with Greens…
- Be aware of their curiosity
about life
- Give things that challenge
their problem-solving
abilities
- Respect their need for
independence
- Know that they are caring
even though they may not
show their feelings much
- Respect their ideas
 Why is this important?
• Think of your
possible future
careers. Will they
involve people? Will
they involve
communication?
 Why True Colors?
• “Color” watching is only one filter through which to view
human behavior.
• True color awareness should alter your interactions as you
become more aware.
• Learning the True Color language and customs of others not
only lowers tension and resistance levels, but it also
demonstrates the utmost respect. It helps you build
relationships.
 References
Miscisin, M. (2005). Showing our True
Colors. Sacramento: True Colors, Inc.

www.true-colors.com