How to Behave When You Meet a Green
Erikson introduces the need for strategies to motivate people he classifies as Greens. The excerpt supplies neither the earlier interaction advice nor the strategies it announces.
THE IDEA
How to Behave When You Meet a Green
In Erikson’s color-based personality framework, this passage bridges earlier advice and forthcoming strategies. Neither set of recommendations is included here.
Okay, now you know how your Green friends would like to be handled. The result will be a calm and excellent relationship, and you will be good friends for many years. Nice, huh? But you can’t stop there, because unless you’re a genuine Green yourself you’ll want to actually do something every now and then. And you’ll need to have some appropriate strategies to kick-start your stability-loving friend.
When to use it
Managing a team member who prefers routine: introduce changes gradually and provide clear rationale.
Planning a vacation with a friend who dislikes surprises: create a detailed itinerary and book accommodations in advance.
Teaching a student who thrives on structure: maintain consistent class routines and give advance notice of schedule changes.
Discussing a proposal’s risks with a partner who values stability.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Encouraging a Green Colleague to Embrace Change
Suppose a colleague worries that a new software system will disrupt their routine. A manager could provide documentation, a transition plan, and time to adapt. This is a hypothetical response to an expressed concern, rather than a method supplied by the excerpt.
Inviting a Green Friend to a Social Event
Suppose a friend is hesitant about a large party. You could discuss the plans beforehand and offer to arrive together or agree on a departure time. Ask what would help rather than assuming their needs from a personality label.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
How can you adapt your communication style to make a stability-oriented person feel secure when suggesting a new idea?
Think of a time you tried to motivate a cautious person. Which approaches helped, and how did you find out what concerned them?
In what ways might your own personality traits conflict with those of a 'Green', and how could you adjust?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Surrounded By Idiots (Thomas Erikson)