First published: March 4, 2023 @ 6:00 pm
Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson
Have you ever found yourself frustrated or confused by the people around you? Do you struggle to communicate effectively with certain individuals, even though you feel like you’re speaking the same language?
If so, you’re not alone. Many of us have experienced difficulties in our personal and professional relationships due to differences in communication styles and personality types.
In his book “Surrounded by Idiots,” Swedish author Thomas Erikson offers insights into these differences and provides practical strategies for improving communication and building stronger relationships with people who may seem like “idiots” at first glance.
Here, we will talk about three main points, which include:
1. There are Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue person types and they are each quite distinct.
2. The Red and Yellow characters are typically seen as troublemakers, whilst the Green and Blue characters are frequently misinterpreted.
3. It’s because of their personality type that you’re having problems giving advice to specific people.
Let’s dive into these points!
Four Personality Types
Hippocrates declared in the fifth century BC that everyone falls into one of four personality types: red represents choleric, yellow represents sanguine, green represents phlegmatic, or blue represents melancholic. Each type of people has characteristics from all of these groups, but everybody has a dominant personality.
Control, ambition, initiative, and competition define the Red type or choleric. They are frequently fiery and difficult to control. They prefer to make changes and assert their authority. This character trait also becomes the first to speak up in a crisis since they are not hesitant to express themselves.
Photo by Duy Pham on Unsplash
The Yellow people are self-assured, upbeat, and charming. They maintain their positivity in all situations and are enjoyable to be around. They are gregarious people that quickly make friends.
The Green personality type, also known as phlegmatic, is peaceful, easygoing, harmonious, and non-conflictual. They are excellent listeners since they prefer not to say too much and instead allow the other person to do so. They make excellent team members since they perceive things clearly and easily cooperate.
The Blue type, often known as the melancholy, is frequently the character of a pessimist. The blue behavior most likely only talk after they have thoroughly considered and evaluated all information. They are also perfectionists, which might slow down their job, and their acts and speech are mute.
Possessing a main personality type does not exclude you from sharing qualities with the others. Some with combined Red and Yellow features, such as outgoing and ambition, or Green and Blue, signifying tranquility and analytical ability, are more common.
Humans are Frequently Misperceived
From the way we communicate to the way we express emotions, human behaviors can be misinterpreted and misunderstood by those around us. This can lead to conflicts, misunderstandings, and even prejudice.
Most people associate choleric with being upfront, brash, or even aggressive. Yet, Reds aren’t terrible or evil people! They simply enjoy taking the initiative.
Moreover, the Yellow people are frequently perceived as irritating, too chatty, and envious of their public charisma. Yellows are sociable beings who are hurt by other people’s opinions, but because they are optimistic and readily diverted, they move on fast.
The Green personality is peaceful and avoids conflict at all costs. Since they are so silent, others assume they are trying to conceal something.
The Blue behavior is complex because of its mysterious character and ever-wandering and silent thoughts, which can make them appear suspicious. People avoid them because they are perfectionists and over-analyze everything. They may appear remote and uncaring, yet they simply like their work and are poor communicators.
As social creatures, our ability to accurately perceive and understand others is crucial for building strong relationships and thriving in our communities. Therefore, it is important to explore the various ways in which humans are misperceived and seek strategies to improve our communication and understanding of one another.
Input Must be Suited to the Person
Since we don’t know how to express criticism based on one’s personality type, it’s likely that a large problem will result.
If you want to convey helpful advice to a choleric, for instance, prepare powerful reasons and omit the introduction entirely! They despise chit-chat and like to get right to the topic.
Photo by Chiến Phạm on Unsplash
If you’re in the situation of offering advice to a Yellow personality type, you should planned ahead with a list, because they’ll be preoccupied and forget immediately away.
Green personalities keep peace and are frequently sensitive to criticism. They’ll agree with you and pity themselves unless you back down. Convey the information in one-on-one sessions, provide a short list of recommendations, and acknowledge that adaptation will take time.
The melancholic personality is ready for input as long as you’re very precise in your approach, explain them step-by-step how they may grow and where they’re going wrong, and you’re willing to respond any concerns they may have.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “Surrounded by Idiots” by Thomas Erikson is a thought-provoking book that sheds light on the complexities of human communication and provides valuable insights into our interactions with others.
Through the four-color personality system, Erikson helps readers better understand themselves and those around them, ultimately leading to more productive and fulfilling relationships. By recognizing our own communication styles and learning how to adapt to many types of people, we can improve our ability to collaborate, build trust, and achieve common goals.
Whether you’re a manager, team member, or simply someone looking to improve your communication skills, Thomas Erikson’s “Surrounded by Idiots” is a must-read that will leave you with a new perspective on the way we interact with one another.
“Flexibility and the ability to interpret other people’s needs is what characterizes a good communicator.”
– Thomas Erikson
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