SASI & SDES
PRESENTS…
TRUE COLORS
SPANISH-ENGLISH
“
In the spirit of diversity, our goal for this True Colors workshop is to help you better
understand the unique qualities and characteristics you and your colleagues bring to your
respective offices at UCF.
We all have different needs and motivations, as well as differing ways of analyzing and
responding to situations. These differences can sometimes create natural barriers to
interpersonal communications and interactions resulting in misunderstandings or even
resistance to working with one another.
Using colors as a metaphor, four patterns of human behavior will be discussed and assessed
in this workshop. You will be able to identify your primary color along with your preferred way
of interacting with the world around you (supervisors, peers, and even students).
Based on the MBTI, True Colors was developed by David Keirsey as a fun and easy tool to
use for both personal and professional development to enhance relationships and create
harmonious environments.”
-Dr. Bill Blank
Effective Interaction Strategies
When working with different color preferences, the following
strategies can bridge understanding.
GREEN
 Prepare material/ presentation in advance.
Ensure accuracy.
 Use a straightforward, direct, low-keyed
approach; stick to business.
 Support their logical, methodical approach;
build credibility by listing pros and cons of
suggestions.
 Provide solid, tangible evidence.
 Give them time to verify predictability of
actions; be accurate, realistic.
 Share the “big picture” concept; allow their
input.
 Provide patient, persistent, diplomatic,
thorough explanations.
BLUE
 Provide a chance for them to verbalize about
ideas, people and their intuition.
 Provide favorable, friendly environment.
 Value people and their goals.
 Discuss the impact of decisions on people.
 Be truthful, sincere, helpful, open and
communicative; promote collaboration.
 Provide ideas for implementing actions.
 Focus on supporting the relationship; be casual
in approach.
 Provide details in writing, but don’t dwell on them.
ORANGE
 Be clear, specific, brief and to the point. Use
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time efficiently.
Stick to business. Come prepared with all
requirements, objectives, supporting
material in a well-organized, bulleted
“package”.
When timelines exist, speak of them
openly and directly.
Provide key alternatives and choices for
decision-making.
Provide facts and figures about probability
of success for options.
Ask “what” questions, not “how”.
Respect need to digress from point at hand;
provide focus.
GOLD
 Show sincere interest in them as people; find
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areas of common involvement; be candid and
open.
Illustrate personal commitment.
Provide and follow schedules; respect time.
Present point of view softly, non-threateningly.
Ask “how” questions to draw opinions.
Move in an orderly, scheduled manner
(preferably written), precise guidelines, options
and expectations.
Provide personal assurances, clear specific
solutions with concrete guarantees.
Excerpted from How to Express Your Natural Skills and Talents in A Career, Carolyn Kalil and
Don Lowry, 1990.
COLOR
ATTRIBUTES
ORANGE
GOLD
GREEN
BLUE
They like to be
Appreciated for:
Creativity,
cleverness
Accuracy,
thoroughness
Ideas, intelligence
Unique
contributions
At work they are:
Flexible
Procedural
Pragmatic
A catalyst
Their core need is:
Freedom
Social belonging
Competency
Self-actualization
Recognition
Being of service
Finding insights
Helping people
Skillfulness
Responsibility
Ingenuity
Authenticity
They are esteemed
by:
Key characteristics:
They take pride in:
Making an impact Being dependable Their competence
Their empathy
They are stressed by:
Restrictions
Rejection
Inadequacy
Feeling artificial
They strive/seek from
others:
Freedom
Justice
Insight
Love/harmony
They support/foster:
Recreation, fun
Institutions
Invention
Personal growth
Their specialty is:
Energy
Results
Strategy
Relationships
They trust:
Chance
Authority
Logic
Intuition
The
troubleshooter
Freedom
The traditionalist
The visionary
The Catalyst
Jurisdiction
Insight
Love/harmony
They have intrinsic
intelligence:
With senses
With material/data
With Strategy
With people
They dislike:
Ineptness,
clumsiness
Disobedience
Injustice
Hypocrisy
They feel guilty when
they:
Act cowardly
Become greedy
Lack will power
Let someone
down
They become irritated
when:
Told how to do
things
Others are not
using the rules
and regulations
Others become
illogical
They are treated
impersonally
Competitiveness
Helpfulness
Technological
insights
A vision of a better
world
In management, they
are:
They strive for and
seek:
They nurture:
Self and External
Perceptions
True Colors
“Self-Perceptions”
Orange
Oranges may see self as:
Fun-loving
Spontaneous
Flexible/Adaptable
Proficient/Capable
Hands-on/Practical
Good Negotiator
Problem-solver
Multi-tasking
Curious/Open
Effective in Chaos
“External Perceptions”
Orange
Others may see Orange as:
Irresponsible
Scattered
Overly Playful
Rule Breaker
Manipulative
Cluttered
Uncontrollable
Resistant to Closure
Indecisive
Unable to “Stay on Task”
Undependable
“Self–Perceptions”
Gold
Gold may see self as:
Stable
Dependable
Efficient
Realistic
Decisive
Good Planner
Orderly/Organized
Punctual
Goal Oriented
Needing Closure
“External Perceptions”
Gold
Others may see Gold as:
Rigid
Controlling
Stubborn
Opinionated
Judgmental
Autocratic
System-bound
Predictable
Unimaginative
“Self–Perceptions”
Blue
Blue may see self as:
Warm
Compassionate
Spiritual
Idealistic
Unselfish
Empathetic
Affirming
Caretaker
Communicator
Promoting Growth/Well-being
“External Perceptions”
Blue
Others may see Blue as:
Overly Emotional
Tender Hearted
Naïve
Touchy-Feely
Smothering
Soft
Pushovers
Pleasers
Too Talkative
“Self–Perceptions”
Green
Green may see self as:
Intellectual
98% Right
Powerful
Objective
Precise
Able to Find Flaws
Reasonable/Rational
Calm/Under Control
Firm-minded
Able to Reprimand
“External Perceptions”
Green
Others may see Green as:
Overbearing
Uncaring
Unrealistic
Critical
Emotionally Controlled
Devaluing Relational Dynamics
Lacking Compassion
Unappreciative of Others
Stingy with Praise
Full Color Spectrum = Success!