True ColoursWhat are You?

True Colors

Word Associations for Blue

• romantic, sensitive, nurturing, strong need for relationships, cultivate the potential in others, honest,

authentic, peaceful

True Colors

Word Associations for Gold

• traditional, organized, punctual, likes detail, loyal, responsible, value home and family, strong feeling of

right and wrong----no gray!

True Colors

Word Associations for Orange

• high energy, need for immediate action, hands-on, seeks competition, carefree,

commands attention, adventuresome,

spontaneous, fun-loving

True Colors

Word Associations for Green

• problem-solvers, analytic, abstract thinkers, curious,

complex, futuristic, strive for perfection, in harmony with

the environment, needs freedom to explore new

solutions

BLUEWhatever Blues decide to do with their lives, it must involve

people!• Caretaker• Optimistic• Passionate• Enthusiastic• Imaginative• Cause oriented• Peacemaker

• True romantic• Need to be unique• Cooperative rather

than competitive• Strong sense of

spirituality• People oriented

Blue Strengths

AcceptingActing as a catalyst

CommunicatingCooperatingCounseling

CreatingGuiding

ImaginationIntuition

LeadingListeningMentoring

MotivatingOptimism

RecruitingSpeaking

SupportivenessTeachingToleranceTraining

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!”

The World vs. BlueCreating 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

• 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”

Gold Strengths

Accounting

Belonging

Caretaking

Collecting data

Contributing

Coordinating

Dispatching

Family

Following directions

Guarding

Handling detail

Organizing

Planning ahead

Securing

Supervising

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. GoldCreating stress for Golds…

- Incomplete answers or ambiguous tasks

- 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

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

• Desires change

• Playful

• Master navigator

• Natural entertainer

• Pushes boundaries

• Accepts challenges

• Impulsive

• Spontaneous

• “Just do it!”

• Appreciates immediate feedback

• Most productive in non-structure environments

Orange Strengths

Able to take charge

Being the master of tools

Carefree

Dealing with chaos

Determination

Direct communicator

Doing many things at once

Eclectic, diverse, changing

Going with the situation

Hands-on

Keeping options open

Negotiating

Proficient, capable

Receptive to opportunities

Risk-taking

Trouble-shooting

Welcomes new ideas

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

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!

Feelin’ Green

• Problem-solver

• “Why” mentality

• Very complex

• Standard-setter

• Cool, calm, collected

• Approaches

interpersonal

relationships in a logical manner

• Intellectual

• Work is play and play is

work

• Need for independence

and private time

• Driven by

competence

• Perfectionist

• Analytical

Green Strengths

Analyzing

Conceptualizing

Confidence

Designing

Determination

Developing

Diagnosing

Intellectualization

Inventing

Mapping out

Problem solving

Reasoning

Researching

Technical know-how

Thinking

Communicating with Greens

• 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.

• 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?”

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

True Colors-Leaders

GREEN

Color Gold Blue Green Orange

Stabilizer Nurturer Visionary Trouble-

Shooter

Accountable Optimistic Strategic Action

Centered

Family/Home

ValuesValues

Relationships

Designer Risk-taker

Orderly Cooperative Inventor Fun

Loyal Sensitive High

Standards

Likes

variety

Socially

Responsible

Democratic Abstract

thinker

Flexible

Needs to

belong

People

Centered

Values

Intelligence

Spontaneous

True Colors-TeachersColor Gold Blue Green Orange

Institution-

oriented

Student

Centered

Subject

Centered

Hands-on

Has

Structured

Routine

Uses

imagination

in teaching

Logical

presentation

of material

Dynamic, spontaneous

teaching

Firm

DisciplinarianInvolves

students

Reward

intelligence

Rewards

innovation

Matter-of-

fact/

Predictable

Comfortable

room - but

messy

Credit given

if justified

Needs big

picture- not

details

Step-by-step

procedures

Nurtures

“whole” child

Uses cause-

effect

approach

Non

traditional

style

Student Reaction to Blue Teacher

Gold Student Blue Student Green Student Orange Student

Why talk about

FEELINGS??

Love that I can talk

about feelings…

Why there is so many

“groupie” activities?

Wish the presentations

would vary.

Dislike all of the

role-playing

Enjoy being able to

choose how we

complete the lesson.

I prefer individual

projects or discussing

ideas with the teacher.

Special projects are

nice if we didn’t have

to tell how it FEELS.

Never enough

practical

examples

I feel bad that she

has to follow all of

those administrator

rules.

I dislike having to

write everything down.

Like that she is

understanding when

my work is late

Like that I feel

important

I love working in

groups. We do so

many fun projects.

The teacher is kind, but

doesn’t know as much

as I know about..

There is never enough

time to discuss ideas.

Please validated

my work.

I’m glad we don’t

have to memorize.

I wish we would talk

about more subjects.

Why isn’t there

discipline in class?

Student Reaction to Gold Teacher

Gold Student Blue Student Green Student Orange Student

Loves the

structure/rules.

Uncomfortable with

all the rules.

Questions why there is

only one right answer.

Would like more

variety.

Enjoys

memorization.

Hate it when other

students are made to

feel bad.

Feels okay in orderly

environment.

Hates example when

operation already

understood.

Likes their

straightforward

tests.

The red check marks

make me feel so

dumb.

Dislikes that the logic/

reason for doing

something is not shared.

Finds classroom

boring.. All work

and no games!

Likes that

“facts” are

rewarded.

Why can’t we role-

play some of the

stories.

Dislikes that you can’t

deviate from teachers

plan.

Resists all of the

structure--finds

excuses to move

Knows how to

get the “A”.

Work, work, work

and more work.

Would prefer more

applications over “facts”

Would like more

hands-on.

Student Reaction to Green Teacher

Gold Student Blue Student Green Student Orange Student

Why can’t the

expectations be

clearer?

I am uncomfortable

having to defend my

response.

WOW--a teacher who

knows so much and is

willing to explain things.

I wish our work

could be more

original.

It’s hard to get an

“A” if the answer

is explained!

Why should I track my

grades. Isn’t that the

teacher’s job?

I’m finally rewarded

for my prior

knowledge.

Sometimes my

questions are

ignored!

The teacher is

disorganized, but

does seem to know

the subject.

I wish the teacher

would be interested in

me, not just the things

we study.

I love it that I can

verbally tell the steps

instead of having to

write them down.

I wish the

assignments

would be more

practical.

I like that there are

high standards.

Why are there so many

correct answers?

I always know why I

got the grade I did.

At least my ideas

are accepted.

I just wish it were

more organized.

Uncomfortable with all

the rules

I think we learn more

by having to analyze.

Being able to

question is great!

Student Reaction to Orange Teacher

Gold Student Blue Student Green Student Orange Student

Hate the lack of

structure/

organization.

All the jumping

around makes me

uncomfortable.

Questions why there is

only one right answer

It’s great that we get

to “think out of the

box.”

Why can’t

homework be

collected regularly?

I think I am liked,

but the teacher never

tells me.

I wish we would stick

to the subject, instead

of jumping all around.

All of the choices of

projects really

energizes me.

Our lessons seem

to jump all around.

I like being about to

be creative.

I wish we could study

it logically and orderly.

Essay tests explain

our thinking…not

just list the facts.

Why do we always

need to “imagine”?

I’m glad we don’t

have to remember all

of the details.

I don’t think there ever

is an outline for what

we study.

I like being able to

think about the

future, not the past.

She does require

us to think.

I like hearing

laughter in the class.

It’s great the we get to

support our answers.

I have fun in this

class.