Picture this: Two people are in love, and since one of them had been married before, they endeavor to do all the right things and plan pastoral premarital counseling.

They failed every test.

The pastor said, “Are you sure you want to do this? The couple said, “Yes!”

And they did.

Several years later, they were listening to a speaker talk about the Color Code personality test. The woman enthusiastically said to the man, “I’m a Red, you’re a White, and this explains EVERYTHING!”

Less than two years later, I (yes, the woman is me) certified as a Color Code personality trainer.

Knowing Color Code was a game-changer in our marriage. Then it was a game-changer at work. And it can be a game-changer for you, too.

Color Code asked me to write a blog post about how to “motivate a White.”  I must admit, I laughed. You don’t necessarily “motivate a White.” You provide an environment where the White sees the logic of the situation and then acts accordingly. Think soft stretches.

Given the challenge presented to me, I went to my White personality spouse and said, “Here’s what I think would work to motivate a White.” He told me, “You nailed it. Present the logic and don’t rush or pressure.” 

If you have studied Color Code, you may have gleaned that the superpower of a White personality is their incredible ability to provide clarity. They examine a situation in a logical manner and will provide a perspective in a way that helps you practically use the reasoning to continue forward – especially when it is a situation of complex personalities and multiple emotions. How? They are not necessarily looking to win. They are looking to keep their inner peace and steady state. And that, dear reader, is how you use that superpower for motivating a White Personality.

Need a White to take action, pursue a goal or just simply take a position?

Consider these suggestions:

1.  Avoid yelling. And if you are a Red who likes to vent – work on this.
   Trust me.
2. Avoid applying direct pressure on the situation. If you are working towards organizational goals, provide soft stretches toward those goals.
3. Avoid forcing a decision immediately.
4.   Avoid entering into direct battle (see no. 1) and being demanding. If you indicate to them that you have control, they will be silently stubborn, and you will get nowhere. While the White does not need control, they do not want to be controlled.
5. Avoid rushing. The goal is to help the White maintain their steady state.
6. Keep the environment comfortable and casual.
7. Honor them and their strengths – acceptance is imperative, because they already accept you.
8. Give them time to think. See no. 5. 
9. Present the logic behind the situation.
10. Know their secondary color. It will have a mighty impact on motivation during a stressful scenario. 

 Recently, when I was coaching a White Personality, I asked this question, “What do you do when someone starts yelling and pushing you to move and do?” This quietly confident woman said with a big smile, “I dig in my heels. I’m not doing anything at that point.” Spoken like a true White!

 Are you a White personality? Let us know in the comments below what motivates you!

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Kelly L. Knowles is a senior trainer at a regional law firm, where she develops and provides technical and professional skills training to all levels of the organization. Kelly is also an adjunct instructor in the Business Management department at MTSU. In 2017, Kelly obtained a Color Code certification and began Kelly K. Consulting. Kelly K. Consulting focuses on helping individuals and teams discover, develop, and dig into their inner leader. She guides this through one-on-one and group coaching as well as through corporate team training.