True ColoursWhat are You?

True ColorsTrue Colors

Word Associations for Blue

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

authentic, peaceful

True ColorsTrue 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 ColorsTrue Colors

Word Associations for Orange

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

commands attention, adventuresome,

spontaneous, fun-loving

True ColorsTrue 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

BLUEBLUEWhatever 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

CommunicatingCooperatingCounselingCreatingGuiding

ImaginationIntuition

LeadingListeningMentoringMotivatingOptimismRecruitingSpeaking

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 StrengthsAccountingBelongingCaretaking

Collecting dataContributingCoordinatingDispatching

Family

Following directionsGuarding

Handling detailOrganizing

Planning aheadSecuring

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 chargeBeing the master of tools

CarefreeDealing with chaos

DeterminationDirect communicator

Doing many things at onceEclectic, diverse, changing

Going with the situationHands-on

Keeping options openNegotiating

Proficient, capableReceptive to opportunities

Risk-takingTrouble-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. OrangeCreating 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

AnalyzingConceptualizing

ConfidenceDesigning

DeterminationDevelopingDiagnosing

IntellectualizationInventing

Mapping outProblem solving

ReasoningResearching

Technical know-howThinking

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. GreensCreating 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-TeachersTrue 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 Disciplinarian

Involves 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 Student Reaction to BlueBlue Teacher 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 Student Reaction to GoldGold Teacher 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 Student Reaction to GreenGreen Teacher 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 Student Reaction to OrangeOrange Teacher 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 that we get to support our answers.

I have fun in this class.

True Colors-LeadersTrue Colors-Leaders

GREEN

ColorGold Blue Green Orange

Stabilizer Nurturer Visionary Trouble-Shooter

Accountable Optimistic Strategic Action Centered

Family/Home Values

Values 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