What's Your Color?
Jacob Adamo, author of Full Spectrum Success and Full Spectrum Freedom, created a simple system to help us identify our basic personality type. There are four main personalities and are identified by color. You can take the color personality quiz online here... Full Spectrum Personality Colors Quiz 2.0
Full "Personality Palette" report of all four colors
Primary & Secondary Color Profiles
Now You Know Your Color? What Does It Mean?
Every person has a dominant color (and perhaps even a close secondary color). Each color has three shades: troublesome, typical, and true. This helps us to identify where people are operating within the personality traits and how to best approach and assist them. For each color listed below, you will see descriptions of each of these shades. Now, when you read the "Troublesome Shade" you may be quick to say WTF?! Haha... most of us shake our head, get defensive, and scream some not so nice words in our heads (and even some of us aloud). Totally normal response. But no need to fret... this does not mean that you are operating in the troublesome shade of your color. It is simply how that color can be perceived when they are in a dysfunctional state. Each color comes in different shades and that shade can change day to day, month to month, or year to year depending upon the season of their life.
Troublesome Shade = Dysfunctional State
Typical Shade = Normal, Functional State
True Shade = Ideal, Highly Functional State
If you are currently operating in the troublesome shade, it's totally ok. Anyone who is a troublesome shade can be worked with to bring them to the typical and true shade of their color. Hello...OILS!! Most dysfunction in personalities lies in insecurity. As you get to know yourself and begin to improve yourself, those insecurities will begin to fade away and the real you, the typical and true shades, will emerge.
When we look at these personality colors, we can see things in other colors we want. We may feel that if we were more of that other color, things would be so much better. However, that is not true. We do not need to seek to be someone other than ourselves, instead we need to seek to bring ourselves to the typical and true shade of ourselves. As we do this, bringing ourselves back into balance, we may find that our color dominance naturally changes. This is because we have traits of all the colors. Some of us switch back and forth between our primary color and our secondary color. This happens when perhaps the primary color is challenging us to grow and it gets a bit uncomfortable. In this situation, it is natural to default to the secondary color that feels safest at that time. When this occurs, we need to allow ourselves to feel a little uncomfortable in order to experience growth. Our colors are not set in stone. They are guidelines to help identify what drive, motivate, and inspire us.
RED
The Red PersonalityAsks:
What will it take to get there?
What can I do?
What is in it for me?
What are the rewards and what are the risks?
What can you offer?
What are the odds?
What is it worth?
“Troublesome” Shade – They tend to exhibit extreme insecurity and lean toward being sociopaths, making up their own morals as they go to fit their situation. Egocentric behavior is common, with verbal abuse present and ready if others do not fulfill their sense of entitlement.
“Typical” Shade – They are confident and love challenges. They are driven by a strong desire to win and they consider themselves to belong in society’s elite. Over-achievement and quick decision making skills help keep them in the limelight and garnering praise from those around them, which is right where they love to be.
“True” Shade – They are ethical winners, with their strength under control. They no longer NEED the approval of others, but have a well-established self-image that allows them to move toward their goals while keeping in their awareness the needs of those around them. Although they still love the attention of victory, they are sure to acknowledge those around them before reaping their own glory.
Reds are:
Dominant, Fact-Oriented, Optimistic, Confident, Quick Decision-Makers, Determined
Driven by goals/objects
Ask "What?"
Leadership keyword = Respect
Believe the measure of success will be in proportion to the measure of action
Determining factor: must remember that their strengths should never be leveraged against others, but rather applied to bolster others as they journey alongside them
Rejection: a source of embarrassment, get over it okay after analyzing what they could do differently next time, what they will get as the outcome needs to be worth what it will take to endure it all to the end
Conflict: battle of willpower, game of dominance, release conflict once resolved
Resolution: show them respect and acknowledge their position, show them the change will provide a deeper level of respect or admiration for them to enjoy
Conflict/Resolution Question: What do you hope to see as the outcome of this?
How to Motivate/Inspire/Convince: LEADERSHIP & REWARD, focus on what they do right and the abilities that they are good at, challenge them to grow and do better in areas where they are lacking, praise and give social recognition for accomplishments, paint them a picture of what they will have when they complete their challenge, what they will have gained, and what it will look & feel like when it's obtained. Help them to understand what you have to offer and then get out of the way because they move forward with quick, almost fearless, tenacity.
blue
The Blue Personality asks:
Why should I do this?
Why does this interest me?
Why are you telling me about it?
Why do I need it?
Why make that change?
Why do we do it this way?
Why is it important?
“Troublesome” Shade – They tend to act without thought of consequences, and are terrible about not being on time or following through with their promises because of their “live for the moment” attitude and their insatiable desire to please themselves first. They are unreliable, forgetful, and often speak before they think.
“Typical” Shade – They are spontaneous and fun loving people that can bring a bright spot to any occasion. Their love of adventure and good sense of humor make them attractive to any party, but don’t make them the center of the evening because time is still just not as important as what they may be doing on any given occasion.
“True” Shade – They are mindful of others’ time, and consider the consequences of their actions before they act. Their love of fun and their energetic behavior is inspiring to those around them when augmented by their focus to stay on track with their goals and desires.
Blues are:
Influence is Key, Feeling-Oriented, Optimistic, Quick Decision-Makers, Impulsive, Quick to Boredom, Energetic, Passionate, Charismatic, Live for the Moment, Change Course Often
Driven by purpose or fun
Ask "Why?"
Leadership keyword = Response
Believe the measure of success will be in proportion to the measure of their affirmation
Determining factor: must remember to focus their drive for fun on helping others enjoy life as much as they do
Rejection: taken as a personal affront, creates "whatever" mentality or depression because their why is attached to being accepted, stew over the rejection but move on, need a why that overpowers the doubts created by rejection
Conflict: battle of authority, they feel the rules don't apply to them, their feelings take precedence over the feelings of others, "talk to the hand" attitude when they feel they can't win
Resolution: connect with them emotionally quickly (short time to resolve because their fun meter expires quickly) to help them find fulfillment and excitement, constructive criticism must avoid negativity, offer them redemption and enjoyment, listen - really listen- to them, lots of positive reinforcement ONLY AFTER the conflict is resolved (or the issue will repeat)
Conflict/Resolution Question: Why are you doing what you are doing?
How to Motivate/Inspire/Convince: RESONANCE, FUN, & CHARISMA, give them social recognition, give them the freedom to allow their creativity to drive the way they accomplish their goal, avoid repetition, make sure they know why they are doing something and make it fun, encourage them every step of the way
Green
The Green Personality asks:
How does this work?
How do you make money from it?
How is the quality tested?
How long has the company been in business?
How good are the reviews of the product?
How do I use this to better myself?
How can I make it better?
How do I succeed?
“Troublesome” Shade – They tend to overanalyze things to the point of being unable to take the first step. They accept nothing on faith, are very unforgiving, skeptical, and expect perfection in every aspect of life. They have an inner need to win every argument and are not very social.
“Typical” Shade – They are highly analytical thinkers and problem solvers, but need to follow a detailed plan in order to function, and like to make well informed decisions after careful consideration. They are practical realists who prefer fact over opinion, pursue “perfection” in themselves and others, and do their best to remain emotionally detached.
“True” Shade – They love a well thought out plan, but do not let the absence of one prevent them from moving forward in life. Their ability to “get to the bottom” of a situation makes them a valuable friend when combined with their ability to empathize and help to form a solution. Their strength is an ability to stand firm on principle in the face of any opposition.
Greens are:
Compliance is Key, Fact & Systems-Oriented, Pessimistic, Slow Decision-Makers, Methodical, Strategic, Separate from Emotions, Analytical, Analysis Paralysis, Drama Killing Machines, Organized, Objective
Driven by Method or Plan
Ask "How?"
Leadership keyword = Research
Believe the measure of success will be in proportion to the measure of their devotion
Determining factor: remember to engage in action while still using their analytical abilities to help shape the outcome of the actions in building or establishing a system for helping others, develop a how that works in their world without having to change the world or those around them
Rejection: inward tidal wave of emotion and counter-strategy, doubts themselves, withdraws socially, slowest to overcome, forgive, or trust again, strong facts and proven history will win out in their minds eventually, reinforce the confidence in their system, formula, training to get desired effects
Conflict: battle of credibility, stand up only when they feel prepared to defend it, offended when opposed, rarely forget an offense (hold grudges), argument is personal
Resolution: acknowledge points or facts that are correct to validate the argument but leaves open the correction of simple flaws within the argument, give them time to process and adjust (patience is key)
Conflict/Resolution Question: How do you see this situation resolving?
How to Motivate/Inspire/Convince: RESPONSIBILITY, RESOURCES & PLANNING, have your facts straight and documented when possible, have or be able to find answers to probing questions, allow them time to think things over, make them feel needed for their opinions and knowledge, acknowledge their credibility, provide them with security and consistency as well as personal attention and exact job descriptions (and recipes), have them create systems and/or organize events, then get out of their way as they are as tenacious as reds (they just prefer to work behind the scenes)
Yellow
The Yellow Personality asks:
Who can I help?
Who will benefit from this?
Who will I be working with?
Who will be there to support me?
“Troublesome” Shade – They are emotionally insecure and will avoid conflict at any cost, even if the results would be healthy. When their bottled-up emotions do finally get released it is in an explosion of anger and bitterness. They are often gullible, worrisome, indecisive to a fault, and lack overall motivation in life.
“Typical” Shade – They are friendly, loyal, and honest. They thrive on team activities, family, and outdoor recreation. They are turned off by materialism and prefer a simpler life, avoiding conflict whenever possible in favor of remaining personable.
“True” Shade – They know how to express their emotions and opinions in a way that remains friendly and empathetic without being overly sympathetic. They are capable of “tough love” and know that they can only help those who truly want to change. Criticism is understood to be a part of life and they do not take it personally. They are the ultimate team members, supporters, and natural peacemakers.
Yellows are:
Steadiness is Key, Feeling-Oriented, Pessimistic, Slow Decision-Makers, Peacemakers, Team Players, Unifiers, Bring Heart to Teams, Supportive, Compliant , People Persons, Sympathetic, Empathetic
Driven by team or helping others
Ask "Who?"
Leadership keyword = Relationship
Believe the measure of success will be in proportion to the measure of their humility
Determining factor: remember to understand that criticism and rejection should not be taken personally, and they are strong enough to love and help others grow through their problems by learning to clearly express feelings and expectations, and that "tough love" is sometimes needed to let someone fail in order to learn
Rejection: taken as a personal injury, hard time getting over it, need to understand they may might not be the person for that situation, but they are one step closer to helping who they were meant for
Conflict: battle of relations, who cares more for who, avoid conflict at all costs, undeniable tension, passive-aggressive
Resolution: be straightforward with empathy and tenderness, state from the beginning that you desire a resolution and a healthy relationship, speed is key to avoid internalization and resentment
Conflict/Resolution Question: Who needs to change to make this better?
How to Motivate/Inspire/Convince: RELATIONSHIPS & TEAMWORK, appreciate and encourage them, show them gratitude for what they do, ask them for help with team unity, remind them of their amazing impact on helping others, enjoy being led by others
A Team of Many Colors
Think of these four personalities as a puzzle to put together. The puzzle is complete when you have all four pieces. As we know, we cannot be everything at once and even looking at one color, we cannot be all the shade of that color either. So, it is really important that we fill our team with all four colors and strive toward the typical and true shades of those colors. This is important because each color brings something different to the table, thus helping everyone. For some colors, it is very difficult to understand the inner workings, needs, and actions of another color. For example a Red has a very difficult time understanding a Yellow as they are not only motivated by very different things, one is based in logic while the other is based in feeling. Having all four colors on your team allows other colors to bridge the communication gap. Utilize each of the colors by leveraging their strengths for the betterment of the group!
Reds lead the way.
Blues motivate others along the way.
Greens plan and strategize. They are the backbone of the team for goal setting and planning.
Yellows take care of others and make them feel appreciated.
As your team begins to understand their color, you can ask them in which areas they feel strong and in which areas they are weak. This allows you to pair them up with other team members for support, motivation, and inspiration!
Presenting to All of the Colors
By incorporating all of the colors into your presentations in group settings and speaking to them through their master question, you take advantage of an incredible opportunity to reach EVERYONE!
In a one-to-one setting:
"So, what do you want out of life? Why do you want it? How are you going to go about getting it? Who are you making the journey with?" These questions open a fantastic opportunity to get to know the person better and see how you can help them, AND they give you insight as to the color personality of that person. The question that elicits the most detail and conversation is a good indication of their primary color.
In a group setting, like a class or seminar:
"Hello! Thank you so much for joining us. I greatly appreciate the time you have taken to be here! I'm going to do my best to tell you what this is all about, why it matters to you, how it works, and who you can help with it. Let's get started." Then, be sure to cover those things throughout your presentation, be it product driven or business driven.
Simple. Yes!!! This is an effective way to reach everyone when you do it in this order. The order is important because of the attention span of each particular color. You must grab your impatient reds and blues first so you don't lose them. The greens and yellows are much more patient, so they'll sit through the first two. The greens will hold on due to sheer curiosity and to satisfy the sarcasm building in their minds during your presentation, but don't worry because as soon as you hit the how portion you're speaking to their heart and the sarcasm will dissolve. The yellows in particular will pay attention just to be polite. You give them the ultimate reward at the end by hitting their emotional target with "who." Then you bring everyone back in the closing with the same four master questions.
"Thank you again so much for joining us! What other questions do you have for me while we wrap this up? Do you understand why this will benefit you? How would you like to ______ (get started with your kit/business/insert situation here)? Who else do you know that would benefit from this?"
YES!!! Simple. Straightforward. It completely takes the guesswork out of it and allows you to present with confidence because you now know you are speaking to everyone!
Reflect and Process What You Learned:
What color(s) are you?! Which shade did you find yourself wearing?
Did you find that you have a lot of the same color personalities on your team or are they pretty varied?
What are you going to do to motivate and empower each color on your team?
Come up with a list of strategies or questions for each color.
Did you print out the section on “Presenting to All of the Colors” so you can practice it to reach all people attending your classes or seminars?