1. What are your True Colors?
An Examination of Self and Others
to Achieve Effective Collaboration

2. “No significant learning takes place without a significant
relationship.”
- James Comer

3. Cool! This sounds fun! (Blue)
Why are we here? (Green)
Cool! This sounds fun! (Blue)
What is this about? Where’s the agenda, again? (Gold)
Where’s the action? This is taking too long. (Orange)

4. A Brief History behind Personality Typing and this Particular Method
Hippocrates observed that people seemed to have one of four humors, or approaches to life: Phlegmatic, Choleric, Melancholic, or Sanguine.
Carl Jung in the 1920s thought people displayed 4 types of functions: Feeling, Thinking, Sensation, or Intuition. He thought for the most part that these functions were innate, but that a culture and environment can influence behaviors.
The 1950s brought Katherine Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Myers, who studied Jung and chose to take it further into 16 personality combinations. This became the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
David Keirsey categorized the personality into 4 types in the late 1960s with Please Understand Me.
Don Lowry, inspired by Keirsey, was amazed by the many benefits that came from recognizing personality types. He then developed the metaphor of True Colors (before the song came out!) and studied the various meanings associated with colors (“good as gold”, “true blue friend”, calming properties of green, and stimulating effects of orange).
Where did I hear about this and how has it been used?
Don’t read ALL of these – but True Colors is based off of other more famous personality tests. I was given this test in a leadership seminar as an undergraduate and then I decided to give it to all members of my family and close friends. It really changed how I interacted with them. Of course, I’m a BLUE, so I was very excited about learning how to interact better with people. I have also used it with my 8th graders as they prepare for high school registration before. They LOVED it because kids love to know more about them. It was a great tool for me to also see how to interact and understand them better.

5. The Analysis
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.
Your second color has a major influence on the first. In some cases, it shines as brightly as your dominant color (internal introvert vs. external extrovert).
This one does not make as much of an impact. Sorry, “third”!
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.

6. 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
Break into COLOR GROUPS and discuss what you feel your faculty needs to know about your color. When you work and are in your groups, what does your color look like? Who is this person? How does the color contribute? What kinds of things will support this color person and bring this person down? What are your commonalities? Report out?

7. BLUE Whatever Blues decide to do with their lives, it must involve people!
Caretaker
Optimistic
Passionate
Enthusiastic
Imaginative
Cause oriented
True romantic
Need to be unique
Cooperative rather than competitive
Strong sense of spirituality
People oriented
Peacemaker
As we start to see the official analysis of colors, please feel free to offer feedback from your color groups on if you agree or disagree. Carrie – do not read ALL of these – just point out some highlights.

8. Blue Strengths Leading Listening Accepting Mentoring
Motivating
Optimism
Recruiting
Speaking
Supportiveness
Teaching
Tolerance
Training
Accepting
Acting as a catalyst
Communicating
Cooperating
Counseling
Creating
Guiding
Imagination
Intuition

9. Communicating with the Blue
When Blues listen, they focus on more than words.
Your message will not get through fully to a Blue if a relationship is not first established.
Blues don’t want to let anyone down, so we should be wary of overwhelming them.
Blues may portray the opposite of what they are feeling.
Blues get frustrated at the insincerity of the, “Hey, how are you?” ritual.
Blues are saying right now, “This is so cool! I love how this will help me relate to other people!”
More discussion here as this is very important in regards to collaboration.

10. 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
More emphasis here!

11. Good as Gold Prepared Loves to plan Detail-oriented Punctual
Strong sense of duty
Most comfortable with a structured environment
Belief in policies
Values traditions
Conscientious
Conservative and stable
Well-organized
Strong “shoulds” and “should nots”
Just highlight Golds.

12. Gold Strengths Accounting Following directions Belonging Guarding
Caretaking
Collecting data
Contributing
Coordinating
Dispatching
Family
Following directions
Guarding
Handling detail
Organizing
Planning ahead
Securing
Supervising

13. 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!”
A bit more information here for faculty.

14. The World vs. Gold Succeeding with Golds… remember to be on time
Creating stress for Golds…
Incomplete/ambiguous tasks/answers
Disorganization
Too many things going on at one time
Waste
Non-conformity
Changing details
Haphazard attitude
Lack of structure/direction
Succeeding with Golds…
remember to be on time
Try to be extra efficient and organized
They are generous but like things to be returned
Do what you say you will do
Be dependable and loyal
Respect their need for security
More discussion opportunities on this page.

15. 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!)
Explain the difference between the extroverted personality and the introverted personality.

16. OUTRAGEOUS ORANGE Energetic Desires change Accepts challenges
Playful
Master navigator
Natural entertainer
Pushes boundaries
Accepts challenges
Impulsive
Spontaneous
“Just do it!”
Appreciates immediate feedback
Most productive in non-structure environments

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

18. Communicating with Oranges
Oranges are confident, loud, and casual
“Now” oriented
Oranges listen for entertainment, usefulness, and relevance
They are constantly looking for opportunities
They want forthright communication
They are trying to accomplish a goal with all communication
When talking to an Orange, encapsulate your information into bite-size pieces
Give Oranges choices and ask for their suggestions
Again, more emphasis is needed on this page.

19. The World vs. Orange Creating Stress for Oranges…
Too much responsibility
Redundancy
Deadlines
Rules and regulations
Being stuck at a desk
“how to” directions
Too much attention to product and not enough to performance/results
Abstract concepts
Succeeding with the Orange…
Be active and don’t slow them down!
Be spontaneous and fun
Compete in fun when appropriate
Be adventuresome and optimistic
Be energetic and ready to go!
More discussion!

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

21. Green Strengths Analyzing Conceptualizing Confidence Designing
Determination
Developing
Diagnosing
Intellectualization
Inventing
Mapping out
Problem solving
Reasoning
Researching
Technical know-how
Thinking

22. Communicating with Greens
Greens usually don’t show emotion.
When talking to a Green, be prepared to defend your position!
Greens are thinking now, “How will this help me with people, again? I don’t need help with people. Why would I?”
Greens communicate for the purpose of gaining or sharing information.
Their favorite line is, “And your point is?”
Greens listen for information and want to know the purpose for that particular communication.
Example of “punch line” card with a BLUE person.

23. The World vs. Greens Succeeding with 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
Green father stories!

24. Why is this important?
Collaboration is about communication and relationships.
We must understand in order to be understood (Stephen Covey).
Practice with scenario?

25. Why True Colors?
“Color” watching is only one filter through which to view human behavior.
True colors should alter your interactions as you become more aware.
It helps you understand values, needs, and actions of others.
True Colors is not supposed to provide you with one strategy for changing yourself or others but to help you understand more fully behaviors and people.
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 and collaboration.

26. References
Miscisin, M. (2005). Showing our True Colors. Sacramento: True Colors, Inc.