Weekly Tools and Tips to Improve Any Relationship
Life is all about relationships. We have them, to some extent, with everyone we meet, from your best friend, to the person who checks you out at the grocery store. In each situation, we modify our behavior to meet the needs of the person with whom we are in that relationship. After all, you wouldn’t behave the same way in front of your Grandma as you would a peer. Whether you recognize is or not, that is the Color Code in action.
There are many factors that come into play that define our outward behavior. Your core motive (color) is innate and will never change. But, what about other behavioral influences that play a part in your personality?
Secondary colors certainly play a part. For instance, if you are a Red with a secondary Yellow, you might be more playful, and less stern. Or if you are a White with a Blue secondary, you might be more relationship oriented, and so forth.
Filters derived from life experiences can be another factor in your outward behavior. As we experience life, we are exposed to countless outside influences that shape who we are and how we view life, often causing incongruent behaviors. For example, if a White is born to Red parents, he might begin to take on Red behaviors. Or, if you have worked with someone you admire greatly and try to emulate his behavior, that too, is a filter.
Hundreds of filters just like that exist in our society. Gender, religion, intelligence, shyness, relationships, and cultural influences can all be filters.
Culturally speaking, think of the diverse group of people you work with–men, women, young, old, and with varying ethnic backgrounds. All of these groups come with their own set of culture filters you should be aware of to best understand what motivates employees and coworkers beyond their driving core motive. Following are a few examples of what you might see:
Three generations are actively employed in the workforce today. Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, and Gen Yers all have different ideas about their role in the workplace.
Possible generational filters might be work ethic, technology use, leadership style, and especially, communications.
Baby Boomers, as a generation, are workaholics, placing job before life balance. The younger generation wants balance. They work at work and play at play.
Baby Boomers are motivated by being valued and told so. Gen Xers like to be rewarded with freedom, and Gen Yers want meaningful work.
Gen Xers and Gen Yers are content to communicate via email, or even texting. Baby Boomers prefer face-to-face, preferably in a meeting.
These generational filters can cause frustration and create derision.
While the time when “a woman’s place is in the home” is long gone, one thing is certain… filters continue to exist among the sexes. Society has taught us that men are stoic, and women are emotional. Studies do show that women—no matter their driving core motive—are more interested in relationships, and have a tendency to show more empathy than men.
Men are stimulated by the competition, and are motivated by financial rewards. Women are more motivated by acknowledgement.
Ethnicity filters are not only important to understand now, but will be critical in the future. With the steady migration from other countries, it is imperative that managers understand the cultural filters people bring with them from their country of origin.
For instance, a Hispanic person is accustomed to a rigid socioeconomic class structure. They may have a difficult time learning to trust a supervisor. Family is the most important thing and their job often comes second in time and dedication.
Happy employees are proven to be productive, faithful workers. Cultural filters, in addition to the day-to-day filters we all have, help identify the needs of your employees, and create an understanding vital to smooth operations within the workplace. Learn to respect and adapt to those needs. Reward based on those needs. If a baby boomer needs validation, validate. If an employee values family who are away, reward them with a calling card. If a man needs competition to be motivated, challenge him.
While you’re at it, contemplate your own outward behavior. Do you have filters that have a negative effect on your personality? If so, identify them and work on correcting them. CC
Teresa Glenn has been working with the Color Code since 2006, where her main focus is product development. She has been in the publishing and product development field for over 20 years. Teresa is a core Red with a strong Yellow secondary.
