Have you ever watched and listened during a work meeting and wondered about your co-workers?

Before learning about Color Code, I did.

Years ago, I can remember sitting in a meeting and listening to all the statistical data about the end of the current fiscal year and how it affected the numbers for the next fiscal year budget. My boss at the time was merely giving facts. There was a note of compassion in that he felt we needed to know what was going on with the agency, but the focus was more on what needed to be done, what would be cut out, and how he wasn’t going to be hiring additional staff to keep from being in a position to have to lay off in the future.

Even with the increase in workload, he decided it would be best for the agency as a whole to do what we could with who we had. I thought everyone should be appreciative of his consideration for his staff. After all, his main goal was to not have to let anyone go. As I looked across the room, I saw some who seemed to view the situation as I did. But, there were several other types of responses in the room, too.

There were some co-workers who were asking questions that I thought were already answered because he was direct and forthcoming with the information. He didn’t leave anything out or any areas gray. The questions were things like, “Will staff be getting assistance with the increase in volume?” and “Will there be layoffs next fiscal year?” There were a few who would roll their eyes as the questions would be repeated using different wording as if the answer was going to change.

Then, there were the ones who were preoccupied the entire meeting. They were passing notes to each other and smirking (especially at the questions) and choking back laughter. They would frequently get up for bathroom breaks and never appeared to be paying attention. These were the same who would be clueless after the meeting as to what went on in the meeting. They weren’t paying attention AT ALL. They just wanted out of the meeting and grumbled about being there (before and after).

Finally, there were the ones who NEVER said anything in any meeting. I don’t care what was being discussed. They would sit barely blinking or seemingly breathing for the entire meeting. They never had a concern big enough to state a position. After the meetings, if you talked with them about the content of the meeting, they would be able to tell you about every detail. The craziest part about it was that while sitting there, they were the ones who were already mapping out a plan as to how they were going to fit the extra work into their schedule and how they were going to continue to be compliant. They were the ones who rationalized the harsh comments and saw everyone’s perspective. I called them the peacemakers. They never made any waves, but were also the ones who were mistreated in the office by management.

Looking at this meeting through the lens of the Color Code, the behavior of each individual gave me all I needed to know about everyone in the room. Have you figured it out?

My boss and those who thought like him were ‘Reds,’ because of the directness and the way he related information to the staff (with facts and data). 

Those who asked a ton of questions, were more engaged in the meeting, and couldn’t wait until the floor was open for questions were ‘Blues,’ because they’re the ones who had to know the “WHY” about everything. 

The ones who played the entire meeting, walked out frequently, and passed notes were ‘Yellows.’ They couldn’t tell you all the details of the meeting, but could definitely tell you how they felt the meeting was a waste of time. 

Finally, there were the peacemakers (‘Whites’), who were in the meeting figuring out how they were going to comply. They were the ones who wanted to always consider the position of everyone involved and felt there was always a way to live harmoniously without making any noise.

Learning about the Color Code didn’t just open my eyes to the differences in personalities, it also helped me to really see others and not judge their reaction or response to what was going on at any given time. My only regret is not learning about it 20 years earlier. 

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Dr. K. Olivia Packer is a Blue who has been helping people discover who they are and their full potential for years. Being a certified Color Code Trainer has allowed her to incorporate an awareness component to the techniques used when counseling (especially marriage counseling). When Dr. Packer isn’t working, she’s spending time with her grandchildren, reading, and trying new recipes.