Colours Exercise Debrief Guide

RED styles are described as:

• Direct
• Adventuresome
• Enterprising
• Forceful
• Competitive
• Demanding
• Decisive
• Self-confident
• Quick to act
• Risk-taker

Major Focus: Red is focused on controlling the environment. Examples of red communication are: “Do it and do it now” or “I’m in charge”.

Basic Needs: A person with a red interpersonal style thrives when he or she has an opportunity to have authority, challenges, and prestige. People with a red style need varied activities, difficult assignments, logical approaches, and opportunities to advance.

Fears/Concerns: People with red interpersonal styles fear being taken advantage of. They hate losing control of the situation. Similarly, boredom and being tied to a routine are to be avoided at all costs. Reds dislike appearing ‘weak’ or ‘soft’.

On a good day: People with red interpersonal styles may be perceived as being independent, decisive, efficient and competitive.

On a bad day: People with a red style may be perceived as being dominating, abrasive, pushy, and touchy.

Words of advice to a person with a red interpersonal style:

Consider –

• Developing more patience with other people.
• Learning to negotiate with others.
• Developing a greater awareness of other people’s needs.
• Participating more with others.

Words of advice to those working with a colleague with a red interpersonal style:

Consider –

• Being clear, specific, brief, and to the point.
• Sticking to business. 
• Coming prepared: i.e., having requirements, objectives, and support material ready.
• Presenting material in a logical format.
• Providing alternatives/choices for making “their” decision.
• If disagreeing, take issue with facts, not people.
• Supporting rather than directing or ordering.
• Departing graciously.

BLUE styles are described as:

• Persuasive
• Self-promoting
• Helpful
• Idealistic
• Achiever
• Impulsive
• Trusting
• Emotional
• Detail avoiding
• Caring

Major focus: Blue focuses his or her energies on others.

Basic needs: A person with a blue interpersonal style thrives on social recognition; he or she wants to be popular and needs people to talk to. People with blue interpersonal styles like freedom from control and detail, and work best in favorable work conditions. A person with a blue style needs recognition of their abilities and wants to help others.

Fears/concerns: People with a blue style fear being blamed for things going wrong. They hate having people be upset with them and are afraid of not being liked or public humiliation.

On a good day: People with blue interpersonal styles may be perceived as being dramatic, enthusiastic and creative.

On a bad day: People with blue styles may be perceived as being impractical and excitable.

Words of advice to a person with a blue interpersonal style:

Consider –

• Being more objective in making decisions.
• Developing more organized, systematic approaches to tasks.
• Improving follow-through by attending to key details.
• Learning to be more direct.
• Having better control over use of time.

Words of advice to those working with a colleague with a blue interpersonal style:

Consider –

• Planning interactions with support interaction.
• Allowing time for relating or socializing.
• Talking about people and their goals.
• Tasks and/or assignments are followed up best when in writing.
• Asking for opinions and ideas.
• Providing approaches to implementing actions.
• Providing testimonials from people seen as important or prominent.
• Offer special, immediate, and extra incentives for willingness to participate.

SILVER styles are described as:

• Loyal
• Team person
• Possessive
• Accepting
• Indecisive
• Predictable
• Serene
• Supportive
• Compromising
• Humble

Major focus: cooperating with others.

Basic needs: A person with a silver interpersonal style thrives on the status quo and security. They need time to adjust and be appreciated. Identification with the group or team is important to those with a silver style. They work better with established work patterns, limited territory, and areas of specialization.

Fears/concerns: People with a silver interpersonal style fear situations where nobody knows what is happening. Confusion and instability concern them greatly, as does lack of clarity on expectations.

On a good day: People with a silver interpersonal style may be perceived as being supportive, dependable, agreeable, and loyal.

On a bad day: People with a silver style may be perceived as dependent, subjective, pliable, and manipulative.

Words of advice to a person with a silver interpersonal style:

Consider –

• Learning how to handle change better.
• Becoming more assertive.
• Increasing comfort with open conflict.
• Varying routines occasionally.
• Speaking up when concerned or bothered.

Words of advice to those working with a colleague with a silver interpersonal style:

Consider –

• Starting, however briefly, with a personal comment.
• Patiently draw out personal goals.
• Listening; being responsive.
• Presenting information in a non-threatening manner.
• Watching for areas of possible disagreement – flight rather than fight. 
• If disagreeing, watch for hurt feelings. 
• Clearly defining individual contributions (preferably in writing). 
• Providing guarantees that decisions will minimize risks.

GREEN styles are described as:

• Cautious
• Analytical
• Persevering
• Conventional
• Reserved
• Practical
• Orderly
• Methodical
• Conscientious
• Organizer

Major focus: What is the “right” or correct way?

Basic needs: A person with a green interpersonal style thrives on security. They need personal attention and no sudden changes. For this reason, people with a green style need exact job descriptions and controlled work environments.

Fears/Concerns: People with green interpersonal styles fear unwarranted personal criticism and criticism of what they have done. They are uncomfortable with spontaneous displays of feelings.

On a good day: People with a green interpersonal style may be perceived as being industrious, objective, orderly, and precise.

On a bad day: People with a green style may be perceived as being indecisive, rigid, picky, and stuffy.

Words of advice to a person with a green interpersonal style:

Consider –

• Developing more comfort with emotionally charged situations.
• Learning to value informal interactions with others.
• Adjusting standards to the needs of the environment.

Words of advice to those working with a colleague with a green interpersonal style:

Consider –

• Approaching in a straight-forward manner; stick to business.
• Building credibility by offering pros and cons to suggestions.
• Doing what you say you will do.
• Presenting an implementation plan with timetables.
• Assuring no surprises.
• If agreeing, provide follow-through.
• If disagreeing, make an organized presentation.
• Giving time to verify reliability of actions.