People and influence
Surrounded by Idiots
A colour model (red, yellow, green, blue) of behaviour styles for better communication.
Key concepts
- Four behaviour types: red (dominant), yellow (inspiring), green (stable), blue (analytical)
- Adapt your style to the listener
- Most people are a mix of two colours
How I use it
I picked this up when I joined Ocado, where everyone was taking an Insights colour profile. I read it one afternoon while my son napped in his pram, worked through the colours, and decided I was mostly red with some yellow. When my Insights results came back, they said exactly that. It was a nice confirmation that I’d understood the material.
It’s a good tool for learning about yourself, and I’d recommend it. But I’m careful with it. I don’t like boxing people into categories like these; used that way, it can do more harm than good.
Connected books
How to Win Friends and Influence People
The Hard Thing About Hard Things