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
![](https://greatesthitsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SURROUNDED-BY-IDIOTS.png)
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.