The one sentence summary

It is completely possible to understand those whose behaviour baffles you by looking at the four main types of human behaviour.

WHAT THE BOOK SAYS

This is a summary of the four types of human behaviour as defined by the colour coding system. This is often called DISA (dominance, inducement, submission, analytical ability) or DISC (c = compliance).

  • Red: dominant (don’t get in their way)

Positive: strong-willed, independent, ambitious, determined, effective

Negative: pushy, strict, tough, hard

  • Yellow: inspiring (head in the clouds)

Positive: stimulating, enthusiastic, dramatic, outgoing

Negative: manipulative, hot-tempered, undisciplined, egotistic

  • Green: stable (change is difficult and may never happen)

Positive: supportive, respectful, obliging, reliable, pleasant

Negative: stubborn, uncertain, compliant, dependent, awkward

  • Blue: analytical (only perfection will do)

Positive: diligent, thoughtful, serious, persistent, demanding, methodical

Negative: critical, indecisive, narrow-minded, fastidious, moralizing

  • Here’s an example to show their different behaviour. Someone discovers an oil stain on the floor:
  • Red: lambasts the person nearest and orders them to mop it up.
  • Yellow: sees it, forgets it, is surprised when he slips on it two days later.
  • Green: sees it, feels a bit of guilt because it poses a problem, does nothing.
  • Blue: wonders “Why is there an oil spill?” and many other questions.
  • Statistically, only about 5% of the population has just one colour that shows in their behaviour. Around 80% have two, and the rest have three. No one has four.
  • The most common combinations are: blue/red; red/yellow; yellow/green; green/blue. All the other combinations will lead to challenges and stress.

WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT IT

  • If you think you are surrounded by idiots, in fact, no matter how strange it may seem, every kind of behaviour is normal (in theory).
  • “Normal” behaviour is relatively predictable, is part of a pattern, is changeable, understandable, unique, excusable, and can be observed.
  • Slog or split refers to a red phenomenon: if the task is important enough, they will do everything to get it done. If they feel it has no purpose, into the trash it goes.
  • “Just because you are right, I don’t have to be wrong.” Anon.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO WATCH

  • Given the mixture of behaviour in most people, the cynic could argue that the colour system is too categorical to work effectively.