Weekly Tools and Tips to Improve Any Relationship
With a demanding new project on the horizon, you have decided to appoint a group leader to head it up. In the past, employees within the group have worked independently, without any defined leadership. However, you feel it would be beneficial to appoint a formal leader for the group. Each color will bring with it its own set of leadership strengths and limitations. Knowing those characteristics will help you select the person best suited for this project.
A healthy Red will make a wonderful leader. Reds are visionary; they are always thinking a few steps ahead. They will set a structured course for the team and give clear directions. Team members will never have to wonder what they should be doing, because a Red leader will never let them forget! Reds are very determined and they hate to lose. A Red leader will compel her team to succeed, no matter what the cost. She will relish in being a leader and will do everything in her power to keep her team on task. A Red leader will thrive when challenged. Her team will not only meet the deadline, but will most likely have its project done early. Reds will never let themselves be overpowered—team members will always know who is in charge. A Red leader operating in her strengths will be highly disciplined, goal-oriented, and productive, and will demand the same from her team.
A Red operating in her limitations, although still a powerful leader, runs the risk of offending her team members. Reds are naturally insensitive, which won’t sit well with the other colors (especially Blues). They are impatient and poor listeners. They don’t want to chit-chat and get to know their team members—they just want to get the job done. An unhealthy Red leader may be critical of her team members’ work. A Red leader will also consider herself the ultimate authority. Reds like to be right, so often times theirs is the only opinion that matters. Team members lead by a Red should not expect to have their own voices heard.
A team lead by a Blue will produce quality work. Blues are perfectionists and will not rest until they are satisfied that they’ve done their best. A Blue leader will put everything he has into helping his team succeed. Blues are very dependable and organized. A Blue leader will produce a detailed, thorough schedule for his team to follow. They are good planners and always follow through with little details that others might forget. A healthy Blue will be a caring, considerate leader. He will nurture individual relationships with each member of his team and take the time to make sure each person’s needs are met. A member of a Blue’s team will feel appreciated and valued. A Blue leader will be extremely loyal to his team—he’ll stick with them no matter how hard things get. Blues often have a deep sense of commitment, so they will never give up on a project. A Blue leader will inspire his team and stand by them.
A Blue leader operating in his limitations may be overly emotional and worried. Blues give a lot of themselves and if they don’t receive the same in return, they are easily hurt emotionally. Naturally unforgiving, a Blue leader may hold a grudge against a team member who has offended him. Blues can also be moody, which will have a negative effect on the group morale. A Blue leader will expect a lot from his team members and will be disappointed if they don’t live up to his very high expectations. A Blue leader may get so caught up in the details of the project that he forgets about the big picture.
A healthy White will be a diplomatic and kind leader. Whites are highly compatible with nearly everyone. A White leader will blend well with all of her team members. Whites value diversity. A White leader will be accepting of everyone on her team and will see the value of different opinions. Naturally a good listener, a White leader will be open to suggestions from her team members and thoughtfully consider their input. A White leader will be patient and kind. She will not pressure her team members or make them feel uncomfortable. Rather, her team will be one in which everyone feels welcome and accepted. Whites stay calm under pressure. Their leadership will be a calming influence to a team. A White leader will have great clarity and insight regarding projects. Whites avoid drama at all costs, so the team environment lead by a White will most likely be peaceful. A White leader operating in her strengths will be calm, fair, and reasonable.
A White’s tendency to avoid confrontation can be a huge strength. But, when a White is in a leadership role, it can also be a limitation. A White leader operating in her limitations will not be willing to confront team members. She would rather suffer the consequences later than have to deal with an uncomfortable situation now by offending or angering a team member. Whites are gentle, which means their leadership style may be too quiet for some. An unhealthy White may lack a sense of urgency, creating problems when there are deadlines to be met.
Team members under a Yellow leader can be sure of one thing: they are going to have a good time. A Yellow leader will do his best to make every task enjoyable. He wants his team members to like him and he wants to have fun himself, so he’ll create a fun environment no matter what he’s doing. A Yellow leader will be a people-person—he’ll win his team members over immediately. He loves a good adventure and he is very optimistic. His cheerful, playful personality will make his team comfortable and they’ll want to make him happy. Yellows are flexible—they find the unanticipated exciting! They flow easily with negative experiences. A Yellow leader will create a high-energy environment for his team and will be anxious to reward them for a job well done. Like Whites, a Yellow leader will be open to input and suggestions from his team. A Yellow leader will make work exciting for his team and will easily motivate them.
A Yellow leader will face a challenge in organization. Yellows can be impulsive and easily distracted. When faced with mundane or routine tasks, a Yellow will become bored easily. Challenged just by keeping himself on task, a Yellow leader will have a difficult time doing that for the rest of the team. A Yellow leader would rather find something enjoyable to do than have to follow up with his team members. His desire for freedom and fun may outweigh his devotion to the task at hand. A Yellow leader may lack the organizational skills necessary to make a schedule for his team and the determination to make sure they follow through.
Lindsay has been working with the Color Code for six years, first as Dr. Hartman’s assistant, then in the trainer services department. She is a graduate of Brigham Young University, where she studied English Language. She is a core Blue with a strong secondary White.
