Let’s Get Organized!  Oh, how we love our Yellows! The enthusiasm and energy these fun-loving creatures bring into our lives make the world that much more of an enjoyable place to be. With the world being such a fun-filled adventure, Yellows need the freedom to experience creativity in a work environment that maximizes their opportunities.     Yellows are unique individuals and need to be organized in their own way. Even if you don’t understand their rhyme or reason, Yellows must have a degree of autonomy to build out their tasks for the day. I do recommend that when giving Yellows this freedom, refrain from barking at them t

There have been significant changes. We've all noticed them. Buzz phrases like 'the great resignation' and 'the era of the employee' are all over the news and business blogs. There are help wanted signs in many establishments. The U.S. now has more job openings than at any time in history. Employees are jumping ship in record numbers. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in September of '21, over 4.4 million people voluntarily left their jobs. It's being called, 'The Era of the Employee.' With nearly 11 million job openings in the U.S., workers have the advantage and are making decisions to improve their working condit

Red: “Do what I say, and we'll get along just fine.” Blue: “Tell me you appreciate me, and I'll walk to the ends of the earth for you.” Welcome to the complicated relationship of Reds and Blues. A relationship combination that you've probably heard us lovingly refer to in the past as "Blood, Sweat, and Tears."   Truthfully, we could talk about this combination for hours, but for the sake of time, this article will focus on one particular tendency of the relationship blend and why it can cause problems if left unchecked: The tendency that neither Reds nor Blues typically offer (at least for very long) what the other perso

I work in Human Resources.  It’s important for our employees to know if we are in the office when they come to the department with questions. The admin of our department (a purist Blue) sets up a weekly meeting reminder for us to submit our calendar for the following week to her by Thursday morning at 8:30 AM.  Seems simple, right?  The question really is, when is the deadline? We have three of the four of the color personalities represented in our department.  The majority of us are Blue personalities.  This makes sense, given Blue’s natural talent to serve others.  Many of us think the calendar is silly, but we do what the admi

I was raised by a mom who is about as Blue as they come. She plans family events months (or even years) in advance, she is easily moved to tears, and she is passionate about her relationships. What throws me for a loop, though, is her secondary color is Yellow. Blues and Yellows are complementary opposites (emphasis on OPPOSITES), so it’s a combination that is hard for me to grasp. But something my mom always says, which is so true, is that her Yellow really shines through when she is on vacation.  One of my mom’s favorite things to do on vacation is to rent bikes and ride along the beach, park, mountain trail, or wherever it is we ar

I was facilitating Color Code workshops in a large organization that had tens of thousands of employees and around 3,000 leaders at various levels. This organization had well over 100 locations and depended on Location Leaders to be in charge of each of those locations.  Location Leaders had hundreds of employees under their purview. They were compensated well, and they carried a massive basket of expectations put upon them by the organization.  The organization worked hard to build a pipeline of lower-level leaders to fill these ranks as spots opened up, and over time, a common thread appeared—the candidates often hired into the Locat

How does a small, critical access hospital with approximately 400 employees, use Color Code? We use it to sustain the bedrock of our organizational culture. The principles of Color Code—“know thyself” and “100% responsibility” perfectly align with the cultural traits of Pullman Regional Hospital that were laid more than 25 years ago and continue to be cultivated to this day. At Pullman Regional Hospital, we have been teaching Color Code as part of our new employee orientation every month since 1995. Since that time, approximately 2,600 employees who were oriented to the hospital were introduced to Color Code. Our CEO spends half a

If there are any Reds out there who haven’t been frustrated with a Blue at some point or another, we would be shocked. Reds and Blues are very different personalities. Reds are insensitive, while Blues are too sensitive. Reds want to get the job done and Blues want to get the job done perfectly. Blues go on about their feelings and Reds get to the point. Get the picture? Reds, we know it can be frustrating for you to maintain and/or foster relationships with Blues, but odds are there are several Blues in your life you want to maintain your relationship with. So instead of getting fed up with the process, listen closely. We’re here to pro

As more and more companies are using personality tests as recruitment and management tools, the question arises, “Do these tests profile?” According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of profile includes, “…the extent to which an individual exhibits traits or abilities as determined by tests or ratings.” So, in the very strict sense of the word, the answer is yes. However, the way in which the question is asked often indicates that personality testing is negative and intrusive — a violation of our most personal self, and perhaps that is the issue that should be addressed. What Color Code profiles is a person’s innate persona

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 personali