Understanding Personalities

Keys to Better Relationships

Definition of Personality

“the totality of an individual’s behavioral and emotional characteristics”

-Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary

History of Personality Research

• Hippocrates – 400 B.C.

• Carl Jung – 1920

• Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers – 1958

• David Keirsey-Marilyn Bates - 1978

Personality Assessments “Colors”

• Real Colors®

• True Colors®

Copyrighted assessment programs that use “colors” to define the personality types (easy to remember)

Personality Colors

• Blue

• Gold

• Green

• Orange

Objectives For This training

• Understand your personality type (color)

• Understand others’ personality type

• Recognize each “color” has a unique blend of strengths

• Use “colors” to better communicate with others

Everyone is a mix of all four “colors”

• One primary color usually dominates

• The second most dominant color can be a major influence on one’s total personality

Characteristics of BLUE People

• Authentic

• Sincere

• Seek harmony

• Peaceful

• Hugs

• Handshakes

• Flexible

• Cultivate potential in others

• “People” people

• Talks

• Enthusiastic

• Idealistic

• Inspirational

• Good listeners

• Sensitive

Characteristics of GREEN People

• Cool

• Calm• Curious• Competent• Perfectionists• Problem solver• Hide emotions

• Want recognition for success

• Deep feelings

• Search for knowledge

• Abstract thinkers

• Asks many questions

• Thrives on work

Characteristics of ORANGE People

• Charming

• Impulsive

• Optimistic

• Competitive

• Love change

• Like tools and gadgets

• Skilled in many areas

• Fun

• Like to party

• Master negotiators

• Creative and quick

• Good under pressure

Characteristics of GOLD People

• Responsible

• Traditional

• Organized

• Value being useful

• Care for others

• Obligation and duty

• Need reasons for change

• Prepared

• Generous

• Patriotic

• Stable

• Serve Others

BLUE Occupations

• Psychologist

• Teacher

• Minister

• Reporter

• Public Relations

• Travel agent

• Actor

• Social worker

• Career counselor

GREEN Occupations

• Engineer

• Attorney

• Computers

• Architect

• Mathematics

• Photographer

• Designer

• Journalist

ORANGE Occupations

• Pilot

• Firefighter

• Public Speaker

• Paramedic

• Dancer

• Musician

• Law enforcement

• Athletic coach

GOLD Occupations

• Educator

• Doctor

• Secretary

• Judge

• Banker

• Manager

• Public Administrator

• Librarian

• Government Worker

How to communicate with BLUE• Be personal and show you care

• Tell how they will help people and make a difference

• Provide opportunities to use their communication abilities

• Provide opportunities to motivate and add enthusiasm to group situations

• Offer a harmonious working environment

How to communicate with GOLD

• Be to the point, factual, and professional• Provide stability and order• Clearly state benefits and rewards• Set definitive rules, regulations, and

constraints• Offer opportunities to serve others,

demonstrate leadership qualities, and organize people and/or things.

How to communicate with GREEN• Be theory based, use models, and provide facts

• Provide a challenge, and offer options (they dislike small talk)

• Offer problems to solve ;allow innovative solutions

• Provide opportunities to increase their knowledge and build their competence

• Recognize their successes

How to communicate with ORANGE

• Offer action that provides benefits quickly

• Offer fun experiences; new ways to do things

• Give them frequent change. No routine tasks

• Provide opportunities to develop a variety of skills.

• Offer them the chance to experience new, novel, and exciting things

• Provide opportunities to use initiative and take risks