One BIG problem with being any Color is that people of other Colors consider us wanting, less than perfect, and possibly stupid. I will talk about being a “stupid Green person” in this blog entry.

Hey there, Green people, the word “stupid” is not often applied to our rational Green population, is it? So what’s the word “stupid” doing here in this blog entry? I doubt that many people see your reasoning as “stupid”, but you can be sure some of your business and social interaction with people of other Colors just might look “less than intelligent.”

I personally look upon upcoming meetings with Green bosses and leaders with some trepidation. The greeting at their office door often sounds exactly like this: “Who are you?” “What’s this about?” and “How long is this going to take?” What seems “stupid” here is an apparent lack of social skills, disrespect for others, and just plain bad manners.

Granted, you Green folk operate in an intense atmosphere with unforgiving deadlines, numerous complex projects, and a dire need for efficiency. Time is not just money for you. It is almost everything. Niceties like social banter, expressions of emotion, and even business protocol take second fiddle to your projects and your time.

In my experience, Greens who act this way are often quite unaware of the effect they have on the people who work around them. Most of the time, other Green colleagues speak and act in the same manner and so do not see the concise and straightforward language as “stupid”. Blues, however, interpret such language as negative, causing conflict, and leaving little room for important discussion of any length. Golds see barriers of arrogance, superiority, and disrespect for others’ roles and timetables. Oranges can’t help but feel they are in the presence of a know-it-all; this “sage” may not be a person they can depend on to work with others and take real action when it’s time to do so. So, for Greens, what these other Colors would call their “stupidity” would not have anything to do with a lack of knowledge or competence; instead they are alarmed at the “stupidity” of unawareness of others’ needs, values, and stressors.

I think Greens, of all the Colors, have the hardest time adjusting their behavior to improve their approachability. In many of my seminars, it is clear that Green folks do understand what to do to build better bridges with others, but Greens demonstrate they struggle to put this knowledge into action. For example, to get true buy-in from Blues and Golds, it’s important to pro-actively and energetically participate in what seems like lengthy meetings. This is in stark contrast to Green-on-Green meetings which sometimes tend to begin and end before either party can pass through a doorway and sit in a chair. And they conclude with: “Send me an email. I’ll get back to you.”

When it comes to working with a team, other people’s values mean a lot. Taking time for a little social interaction and open-ended discussion (not always on point) are tasks and events that are every bit as important as the completion of a drafted stratagem. Social interaction can be uncomfortable – but so can drilling holes in steel to accommodate rivets, and it’s a step that can’t be skipped.

To those of us who are not Greens, our successful relationships with them and our understanding of them will grow geometrically if we approach them with full knowledge that they start out wanting to respect us and work with us. When we show up at their door with questions or information, is it clear that we have done serious homework? Can we express our ideas clearly and concisely? Are we willing to stay on point?

Now here is one last tip for working with Greens. They have very strong stomachs and big shoulders when it comes to dealing with conflict. If you feel that you are not getting the respect and audience you deserve from them, say so. Be ready to explain why. You will be surprised at their accommodating responses. Unlike the rest of us, Greens are not known to lose sleep over personality issues; on the other hand, they will think and act quickly on information of a personal nature that clearly effects the completion of projects and the quality of productive teamwork.

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