Book Byte #101 "Surrounded by Idiots" by Thomas Erikson

The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life)

📣 Curious Quotes from the Author

“But the most important lesson that you can walk away with is that the idiots who surround you are, in fact, not idiots at all. Instead, they are individuals worthy of respect, understanding, and being valued.”

“Quick Review of Core Behavior Patterns Reds are quick and more than happy to take command if needed. They make things happen. However, when they get going, they become control freaks and can be hopeless to deal with. And they repeatedly trample on people’s toes. Yellows can be amusing, creative, and elevate the mood regardless of who they’re with. However, when they are given unlimited space, they will consume all the oxygen in the room, they won’t allow anyone into a conversation, and their stories will reflect reality less and less. The friendly Greens are easy to hang out with because they are so pleasant and genuinely care for others. Unfortunately, they can be too wishy-washy and unclear. Anyone who never takes a stand eventually becomes difficult to handle. You don’t know where they really stand, and indecision kills the energy in other people. The analytical Blues are calm, levelheaded, and think before they speak. Their ability to keep a cool head is undoubtedly an enviable quality for all who aren’t capable of doing that. However, Blues’ critical thinking can easily turn to suspicion and questioning those around them. Everything can become suspect and sinister.”

“It takes a strong mind to move things forward, someone who understands that risks that are part of everyday life and that everything boils down to hard work from morning to night—”

“It takes a strong mind to move things forward, someone who understands that risks that are part of everyday life and that everything boils down to hard work from morning to night—”

“Communication happens on the listener's terms”

“Introverted” doesn’t mean silent; it means active in the inner world.”

“Dismiss personal jealousy and complaints. Learn to have tolerance and patience, both with yourself and with others.”

“Most people are aware of and sensitive to how they want to be treated. By adjusting yourself to how other people want to be treated, you become more effective in your communication.”

“What did our mothers teach us? Treat others as you want to be treated. Excellent advice and very well intentioned. And it works, too—as long as everyone is just like you.”

“The stronger your self-understanding is, the greater your probability of adapting to the people around you.”

“If you have nothing to say—keep quiet.”

“If we don’t push ourselves to the breaking point, we haven’t tried hard enough.”

“Flexibility and the ability to interpret other people's needs is what characterizes a good communicator.”

“By adjusting yourself to how other people want to be treated, you become more effective in your communication.”

“You can’t just base your method of communication on your own preferences. Flexibility and the ability to interpret other people’s needs is what characterizes a good communicator.”

“Child psychologists have argued that the things we find most shocking in the behavior of our children are the things we recognize in ourselves—but wish we didn’t do.”

📚 Cognition of the Book’s Big Idea:

If you wish to avoid misunderstandings and improve your communication skills, you should first understand the four fundamental personality types. The first personality type is Red, which thrives on leadership and problem solving. The second is Yellow, which enjoys being impulsive, passionate, and appealing. The Green personality type values calmness, stability, and reliability. The Blue type values correctness, order, and caution. Knowing each of these sorts' desires and pressures will help you tailor your message to their needs and ensure it is received successfully. This understanding can also help to create a more peaceful and effective work atmosphere.

Consider hard pairings in group dynamics.

While a Blue/Yellow coupling can be challenging, adding a Green to the equation can frequently have a neutralizing impact, transforming a hostile scenario into a constructive one. Similarly, if there are a lot of Reds and Yellows in a group, adding a Green or Blue will assure that someone will listen, take notes, and conduct the fact-checking that Reds and Yellows aren't interested in.

🛠️Fixing the Tech Industry

Personalities clash, but some work together to create the most ingenious inventions of the 21st century. Never think that having a team of same personalities will benefit you more than a Team with different backgrounds.

🤝Collaborate with others with this Social Media Prompt:

What type of personality do you get along best with?