Have you ever wondered why there are some people at work you just can’t get through to? You simply can’t connect with them, no matter how hard you try. You get frustrated waiting for your teammate to make a decision, or to read that detailed plan you sent them weeks ago.
Ask any team in any organisation what’s the number one thing they need to get better at, and good communication will most likely come out on top.
When we’re aware of another person’s colour energies, we can understand why they say and do the things they do
In a recent study carried out by Insights, the top human skill required for high-performing teams and organisations is effective communication, closely followed by creativity and problem solving. Globally, effective communication is a requirement across almost all industry sectors, and the need for it is felt most acutely here in the UK.
So, how do we improve communication at work? How do we navigate those difficult conversations without making people feel as if they’re being punished?
First of all, we need to create a safe space where we can address tricky issues without judging or criticising – where employees feel accepted, listened to, valued and recognised. And we need to speak a language that everyone understands.
At Insights we’ve developed a language around colour energies. It’s a way of communicating that’s so easy to learn that many of the world’s largest organisations are already using it.
The result? Increased efficiency, productivity and higher morale.
But what exactly do we mean by colour energies? It’s a method we use to help us understand why some people behave in the unique way they do. It’s a way of becoming more aware of ourselves and those we work with.
For example, someone with Cool Blue energy is often good with detail, whereas someone with Sunshine Yellow energy may prefer to see the bigger picture. It’s not because there’s anything wrong with them – it’s just the way they’re wired, and that may be different to how you’re wired.
The idea of personality typing is nothing new. In the 1920s, Dr Carl G Jung developed his well-known theory of psychological types.
He proposed that an individual’s personality is a blend of several elements, including introversion and extroversion, and when combined, these elements produce common personality types. It’s the way in which these elements are balanced that gives us our unique personality.
A century later, Andi Lothian, founder of Insights Learning & Development, along with his son Andy (current CEO of the Insights Group), developed a way to measure the balance of these various elements and interpret them using four colours.
By filling in a questionnaire, a participant receives a report, based on their responses. This is called the Insights Discovery personal profile. It shows a person’s unique balance of colour energies on a graph, along with tips on how to communicate with them. The profile provides a full and accurate picture of a person’s own unique personality, which they can then share with others if they choose to.
It's a simple, yet profound, system for communicating.
Once we develop this awareness of colour energies and learn to recognise them in ourselves and others, communication in the workplace becomes smoother and more effective.
It unlocks opportunities for individual growth and positivity, as we learn to adapt to others’ styles. We can modify our language to address problems in a safe, non-judgemental way.
Dr Tanya Boyd, Principal Product Content Manager at Insights, has identified four stages of awareness we might go through when learning the language of colour energies.
Stage 1: Self-awareness
This is the ‘ah-ha’ moment when we discover our own colour energies.
If we’re aware of what we’re saying and doing, and more importantly why, we perform more effectively. With this awareness of ourselves and our impact on others, we can adapt how we communicate.
Stage 2: ‘Other’ awareness
This is when we learn to recognise another person’s colour energies.
When we’re aware of another person’s colour energies, we can understand why they say and do the things they do. We become aware of their strengths, possible weaknesses and needs, and from there learn to resist judging, criticising or making assumptions about them.
Stage 3: Situational awareness
This is when we identify the problem.
This means noticing and paying attention to the situation or environment that’s causing conflict. At this stage we know our own colour energies and those of the person we’re talking to, so we can look at the situation objectively, accept it, understand it, and work together to find a solution.
Stage 4: Awareness of future possibilities
Moving forward in a positive direction.
As well as being aware of where we are right now, we need to be aware of what might happen in the future. So, now that we have this new awareness, we become more active in shaping the future and can prepare for similar conflicts that might arise.
The beauty of this colour energy system is that you can adopt it in your team or organisation right now.
When everyone in your team understands how their colour dynamics affect the way they communicate, motivation among the team will increase and communication will improve. You’ll make connections immediately and your ability to communicate with your colleagues will open up new possibilities for growth.
So, for your next difficult conversation, sit down together with your Insights Discovery profiles, look at each other’s colour graphs and talk about your colour energies. Then you’ll understand where each other is coming from, and the conversation will flow.
Insights Discovery is an L&D training system that creates high-performing teams by enhancing awareness and workplace relationships. Using a memorable four-colour model to illustrate different behavioural styles, it creates a common language that connects colleagues across geographical and cultural boundaries, fostering collaboration, driving productivity and transforming workplaces.