Blue Personality: Cautious Decision-Making
Erikson’s Blue personality description emphasizes caution, risk assessment, and preparation. These habits can catch problems before action, but can also delay decisions or discourage taking a worthwhile risk.
THE IDEA
Why Some People Have to Sleep on Things for So Long You Wonder If They’ve Gone into Hibernation
Another characteristic of Erikson’s Blue behavior is caution. They’re generally very cautious. They often think safety first. Where a Red or Yellow would take a wild chance, a Blue will hold off and consider everything one more time. There may be more factors to take into account, right? You need to get to the bottom of things before you act.
This can manifest itself in various ways. It’s a fact that for the Blue, the trip is more important than the destination, exactly the opposite of a Red. Obviously, this amount of caution can result in no decisions being made at all, and it also means that Blues rarely take any major risks. Never taking any risks ensures a predictable life; we can probably agree on that. I’m not saying anything about how exciting and inspiring it would be; I’m just stating the facts.
Sometimes a Blue can even completely refrain from starting something because he can’t assess the risks. I once met a Blue seller who had trained as an engineer. His motto was that the best deal is often the one you didn’t make. Risk assessment is a complex thing, and who knows what dangers are lurking out there? A Blue generally solves everything by creating advanced systems that manage the possible risks that may arise. They set three alarm clocks. They leave two hours early when one would be enough. They check and recheck the children’s backpacks before school in the morning, even though they packed them the night before and no one has touched the backpacks during the night. They triple-check that the keys are in their pocket and, of course, they are. Where else would they be?
The benefits of this are evident. Blues won’t be taken aback by unexpected events in the same way others would be. And in the long run, they save a lot of time.
When to use it
When evaluating a business investment, a Blue personality would meticulously analyze all potential risks and returns before committing.
In project management, a Blue might create detailed contingency plans and redundant checks to ensure smooth execution.
When planning a family vacation, a Blue will verify reservations, check travel times, and pack extra supplies days in advance.
In engineering or safety-critical fields, a Blue’s cautious approach helps prevent accidents and ensures compliance with regulations.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
The Engineer Seller
A Blue salesperson with an engineering background operates on the motto 'the best deal is often the one you didn’t make,' reflecting extreme risk aversion and a tendency to avoid transactions when risks are uncertain.
Over-Preparation Rituals
Erikson illustrates Blue caution through repeated checks: setting three alarm clocks, leaving two hours early, and checking keys and children’s backpacks again even when nothing has changed.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
How might excessive caution prevent you from seizing opportunities that require calculated risk?
In what situations is a Blue’s thorough risk assessment most beneficial, and when does it become a liability?
Can you recall a time when over-analysis led to a missed opportunity or a delayed decision? What could you have done differently?
Often confused with
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Surrounded By Idiots (Thomas Erikson)