Communication Archives

How to Work With a Red Personality Type

What are some of the traits of the red personality type? How can you adapt your behavior to work cooperatively with a red-dominant person? According to Thomas Erikson in Surrounded by Idiots, Red personalities are unapologetically ambitious and self-confident. They like to be in charge and are comfortable taking risks. People with this personality are extroverted and not afraid to speak their mind, even when it causes conflict. Erikson notes that Hippocrates calls this behavior type “choleric.” Here’s how to manage a working relationship with a red-dominant person.

How to Work With a Yellow Personality Type

What traits would you expect from a yellow personality type? In what ways should you adapt your behavior when working with a yellow-dominant person? According to Thomas Erikson in Surrounded by Idiots, Yellow types have a charismatic personality and a bright outlook. Erikson says they see life as a smorgasbord of delights and are the first to try something new. Their driving forces in life are joy and laughter. Erikson writes that Hippocrates refers to this type as “sanguine,” which means “optimist.” Here’s how to work with yellow-dominant people.

How to Work With a Green Personality Type

What are the traits of a Green personality type? In what ways should you adapt your behavior when working with a Green-dominant person? According to Thomas Erikson in Surrounded by Idiots, the Green personality (which Hippocrates would call “phlegmatic”) is the most common. He labels Green types as the most balanced and describes them as a little bit of every color. Green personalities are even-tempered, kind, and empathetic—and they can go with the flow. Erikson says they can be perceived as shy or unsure of themselves. Keep reading for advice on how to work with a Green-dominant person.

How to Work With a Blue Personality Type

What are the traits of a Blue personality type? In what ways should you adapt your behavior when working with a Blue-dominant person? According to Thomas Erikson in Surrounded by Idiots, Blue-dominant people are extremely organized. Erikson says they have a place for everything, know where every cent goes, and keep detailed schedules. It would not be unusual for a Blue type to plan meals weeks in advance. Keep reading for advice on how to work with a Blue-dominant person.

The Importance of Team Bonding (+Foolproof Strategy)

Why is it important to build strong bonds amongst your team members? What is the best way to increase team bonding in your organization? The importance of team bonding cannot be underestimated: it helps team members become closer, build trust, and strengthen team cohesion. Team bonding happens in situations that create a shared meaning for everyone present—experiences that underscore a common mission. Creating such moments is a three-step process: 1) create a shared moment, 2) allow for voluntary struggle, and 3) reconnect members with their work’s meaning. Let’s explore each step in more detail.

How to Surprise Someone in a Meaningful Way

Why do people like surprises? What is the key to creating a good surprise? Surprises add a little spice to a usual, mundane routine and they don’t have to be limited to special occasions. According to Chip and Dan Heath, the authors of The Power of Moments, there are two steps to creating a surprise: 1) identify scripts and routines, 2) think about how you can go off the usual routine in a meaningful way. Here is how to surprise someone in a meaningful way.

How to Tell Someone an Uncomfortable Truth

Have you ever had to tell someone an uncomfortable truth? What was their reaction? What do you think is the best way to get someone to confront a hard-to-hear truth about themselves? Most people go about telling one another hard-to-hear truths in the wrong way—by saying the truth outright. But this approach often leads to defensiveness and breakdown of communication. If you want someone to confront an uncomfortable truth, don’t tell them directly—lead them to discover it themselves. Here is how to force someone to confront an uncomfortable truth without telling them outright.

Responsiveness: The Key to Strong Client Relationships

Why are client relationships important for a business’s success? What’s the key to building strong, trusting client relationships? Good client relationships are crucial for every service business’ success. Giving your clients canned responses creates an unsatisfying and impersonal experience. If you want to deepen relationships with your clients, treat them with responsiveness. Here is why responsiveness is the key to building strong client relationships.

Deepening Relationships With Responsiveness

How do you establish a stronger connection in a relationship? What’s the key to deepening a relationship? Contrary to what you might think, relationships do not naturally deepen or grow stronger over time. Without regular maintenance, relationships easily plateau—they won’t develop any further without a bit of engineering. A properly maintained relationship has positive peaks that serve as the defining moments that deepen the relationship. Keep reading to learn about the key ingredient of a strong relationship.

Giving Recognition: An Underrated Practice

Why is giving recognition for excellent work important? What’s the best way to show someone their effort has been noticed and appreciated? There’s a common misconception that people who work hard are likely to feel proud of their work. But it’s not so simple: Pride doesn’t come from hard work alone—it comes from the results of your hard work being noticed. In their book The Power of Moments, Chip and Dan Heath suggest two ways of giving recognition: 1) give frequent, personal recognition, and 2) make progress visible. We’ll explore both of these methods below.