I'm Orange. What Color Are You?
Group: Better Networker Newbies Guide
Written by Melanie Kissell on Feb 26, 2009 9:43 pm
Read More: Prospecting | Sponsoring and RecruitingWhen you're talking to prospects, do you find yourself, first and foremost, trying to figure out what personality color they are?
Do you ever discount or dismiss someone as a potential business partner or customer because of the color you have assigned them?
Many universities, psychologists, and employers conduct personality tests. After learning about the four personality colors, I did some further research and uncovered another four! You may want to add the following to your color palette:
BROWN: Warm; deep thinkers; sensitive to the needs and desires of others
GRAY: Procrastinators; indecisive; lives filled with question mark territories
BLACK: Extremely moody; perform at their peak when under stress and unhappy
PURPLE: Overly sophisticated; business-like; concerned with personal fulfillment
People play to their labels.
Both the terms "projection" and "labeling" start with useful observations yet, when pushed too far, they become negatives.
If you arbitrarily labeled people in Group A as "industrious" and people in Group B as "lazy", you are apt to find the people in Group A behaving industriously, and Group B behaving lazily.
The color personality labels we attach to people can create a bias, a prejudice, and affect their behavior ... and OUR behavior in working with prospects and team members.
Understanding the derogatory possibilities of labeling someone Yellow, Blue, Green, or Red can improve your ability to communicate and perform better as a professional network marketer. Pigeon-holing or projecting a specific color onto someone will cloud your perspective and may cause you to lose sight of your objective. You're looking to retail and recruit, right?
In my view, our minds work by attaching words and phrases to the things around us. We have words for important things like people, places, and events. We form ideas about these different things, and then spend much of our lives making "judgments" based on this mental model we create of the world. Maybe it's time to stop making narrow, boxed-in judgments. It's true you can't tell a book by its cover!
I have heard of people using their personality color as a CRUTCH. This is NOT the intended use of the personality color. It is not there for you to use it to attempt to explain away improper behavior. I have personally witnessed this time and time again.
For example, you may be the very essence of a Green (logical, loner, independent), but this does not give you the right to be rude to anyone.
Just because you are a Red (decisive, impulsive, risky), you don’t have the right to roll over everyone else in a group and not allow others to share their ideas because you spoke up first. Reds must learn to curb their impulse to control a group and wait for others to contribute.
Let's experiment for a moment with personality colors. Picture this ...
I'm your prospect and I've accepted an invitation to attend your business opportunity meeting.
I arrive 10 minutes early. I'm not wearing a smile, but I'm wearing dress pumps, a stylish, beautifully-tailored black suit and a red blouse. The only piece of jewelry I'm wearing is a watch. I choose not to mingle with the other early attendees. Instead, I scan over the seating arrangement and sit down in the front row. I've brought along two pens (in case one runs out of ink), and a small, spiral-bound notebook. I plan on taking copious notes even though I've been informed that I'll be provided with brochures, a DVD, and other handouts. I thoroughly enjoy the meeting and ask several questions during the presentation. I make a new friend in the delightful person sitting next to me. We exchange contact information and plan to talk again soon.
Can you guess what personality color I am?
Most importantly, will pinning a color on me matter at all if your products and/or business opportunity can meet a need or solve any problems for me?
To Your Success,
Melanie
206-202-3595
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About the Author: Melanie Kissell
Member Since: 10/10/2007
Company: Perinatal Services
Industry: Health Care
Primary Web Site: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/mkissell
strange
Hi Melanie
I remember reading and responding to this comment - yesterday and its not there. Wonder what happened. Maybe I did not click 'submit'...but I thought I saw it afterward.
Mystery!!
Rachel Cormier
Mission BC Canada
You are so right Melanie
The colour someone is doesn't matter one bit if you are not listening to what problem they need solved.
Great point of view. keep it up.
Joyce Penner
www.joycepenner.com
Appreciate your feedback
Thanks for your input here, Joyce.
I used to think it was so important to pinpoint a prospect's "color". Now I realize that focusing on someone's personality color has no business-building relevance whatsoever. Although it's interesting information, I think that pyschologists and psychiatrists can put it to much better use than network marketers!
~Melanie
Understanding Colors Are Part Of The Network Marketing Success
Colors alone will not build Networking success; they will help in understanding how to relate to prospects when you speak to them.
From the game you posted, I will deduce that the person described is a RED. They want to cut through the chase and get to the business at hand.
Network Marketing Success
Thanks for stopping by and reading my article, Chris.
No, sorry, my personalilty color is not Red. Want to guess again?
As far as "relating" to prospects, simply listen to them and figure out if your business will work for them or not. This can be accomplished easily and without any colors training whatsoever.
Let's say that you're talking to a prospect who's giving you short answers and you find out the person does scientific research for a living. Have you conditioned yourself to think "Green"? If so, you'll immediately kick in to having pre-conceived notions and expectations of your prospect. And, subconsiously, you're already looking for some kind of challenge or problem with this prospect. You may even have your brain trained to say, "This guy is going to take forever to make a decision about joining me and I'm going to have to keep feeding him more and more information." Sound familiar?
Chris, compartmentalizing prospects is not an integral part of network marketing success. Good interpersonal skills and treating others as you wish to be treated ... Is!
Something to think about,
~Melanie
Hey Chris
The colours training is excellent training but the important part is not the "colours". The crucial skill everyone needs to utilize from that training is the skill of listening not categorizing.
To your success,
Joyce Penner
www.joycepenner.com
The Color of Listening
What color do you listen with? How do you filter you listening of the person talking. Probably as important to clean up as attempting to categorize a person's color traits.
Listening without a filter will afford you the opportunity to hear what your prospect is really saying, what they are in need of and how you can satisfy that need. Isn't that the task of a good listener? Not to classify and pigeon hole.
RICK
Thanks For The Reply
First, I had to venture your color. There is no way for me to know what you are when I have not established any relationship with you. I am 100% with you that Network Marketing should be about building relatinship.
This is what I expect from these groups; thought provoking discussions. I should have stated that I am new to this stuff and enjoy seeing what other think. Guess it is not a science; the colors have been around for awhile.
You are right, we should not brand people and put them in this compartment.
Hope to connect with you more...go to go to church now.
How is the relationship building working for you and what means do you recommend?
You got it!
Hello again, Chris,
Pat yourself on the back. You may be new to this stuff, but you're a quick study! It took me 12 painstaking years to figure it all out.
I can tell you have a genuine desire to succeed at network marketing.
As far as relationship builiding goes ...
Yes, it's an essential component of working a home based business. However, building relationships with your prospects is NOT essential to your success. It's time consuming and needless. The people you want to invest your time, energy, and effort into building relationships with are the people that become your business partners (downline) and your customers. They deserve to get to know, like, and trust you. You have an important reason and responsibility to work on keeping those relationships healthy, vibrant, and intact. Does this make sense to you, Chris?
When talking to prospects, of course you will treat them respectfully and be cordial and conversational. However, your goal is pretty clear ... Is your business opportunity and/or your products right for them or not? My network marketing team uses a unified training system that teaches "Rejection-free" methods and a "Non-sales" system for prospecting and sponsoring. The training is simple and effective.
Hope to connect with you more, too.
Wishing you the very best of success,
~Melanie
Got to disagree here
I have to disagree with you that building relationships with your prospects is 'time consuming and needless' Melanie. If you don't build relationships with your prospects, your chances of them becoming your business partners/customers (at least in any long term profitable way) are pretty slim.
If your prospects don't get to know, like and trust you, why would they go on to become your business partner/customer? Looking at them purely in terms of 'are you going to make me money', will put off a lot of people.
Not sure if this is what your post meant, but the impression is that unless someone is going to join your team or buy your products, then they're not really worth wasting your time on? Maybe I read it wrong.
Your Honesty is Refreshing, Susan
Susan,
Your candor is much appreciated! Thanks for taking the time to read my article.
I can see where some points I've made could possibly be misconstrued. Even though you and I have never met, I hope you'll trust that I would never or could ever coldly view people as $$ dollar signs. That's not what I meant at all.
Tell you what. I'm posting an article on Monday entitled, "Once And For All, Let's Define Relationship Building in Network Marketing."
Will you look for it and give it a read?
Instead of writing volumes here in response to your comment, the article will give you a much clearer picture of what I am trying to convey. And I believe the information will prove to be valuable to you.
Wishing you tremendous success,
~Melanie
Think through that "business partner" phrase
I can read your confusion Susan but if you stop and think about the business partner aspect it will make a bit more sense. No matter what colour the person is if you can establish within the first 5 minutes that this person doesn't have what it takes to be YOUR business partner why would you spend anymore time with them? It's called screening in the network marketing industry. Reverse how you look at your business. YOU are looking for business partners so screen and build the relationship with those who deserve your valuable time.
To your success,
Joyce Penner
www.joycepenner.com
Oh fun - I get to take sides :)
'Cause I'm 100% in agreement with Susan - I have never been able to stomach the "some will some won't so what NEXT!" approach to building.
The people that I attract as prospects are people to me first. With families and a story and wants and desires. If I don't take the time to really understand them first and also take the time to let them get to know me (doesn't have to be in person, tools can totally be leverageed to this end) - then what are they other than a piece of meat to me?
Of course I only want to filter through the people who I want to filter through, but if I feel I can determine whether someone is "right for my business" or not in the first 5 minutes, I would submit I'm being extremely short-sighted.
MUCH of this business of BIG networking business is built over YEARS of contact and connection and dancing around - and everyone's got to begin at zero.
Plus - people are much more likely to be long-term devoted to you (or at least listen to - support - JV with you in your next BIG idea) if you take part in their leadership development. And that timing is about them not you.
wait...
Just my .02 - and what works for me - Attraction Marketing works in lots of different ways. I guess if you're wanting to attract people who treat others (yourself included) with a "wiifm" thoughts first and foremost, then this would not work for you.
Appreciate the thread Melanie!
Andrea
Taking sides
I was interviewing people for a key postion in my business. (Brick and mortar) Tons of applications. Could have spent an hour interviewing everyone but since my time is my most valuable resource I weeded (sorted) through the resumes and chose only the top 3. (You know the ones who could spell and put a sentence together - those type of people) Then I spent one hour of my time with each one of those 3 - the top prospects. I was looking for the one who could work independently, had a desire to learn, was interested in making lots of money etc. That was the one I chose to train and work with.
Your train of thought, if I have followed you correctly would be to interview them all, find out their family history, their needs and wants, listen, sympathize, offer to help, hold their hands etc. Wasting hours of my precious time.
I have a family and I can't do that to them. I got involved in network marketing so I could spend more time with them. Just as in my brick and mortar business I accept those into my MLM business who are keeners. Working together, each of us attaining our own goals and desires. A mutually, beneficial relationship with give and take and respect. My family is far more deserving of my time than people who need to be hand fed.
Can I tell in 5 or 10 minutes whether you are deserving of my time? Yes. Hand me a sloppy resume and you won't be granted an interview. Is it working for me? Yes. Ask my kids. They love having a financially secure mom with time freedom to spend with them. And I love having a team who is focused, learning and gaining the financial security they want. It's a win, win situation. Some will, some won't, I choose.
To your success,
Joyce Penner
www.joycepenner.com
Nope - we're kind of saying the same thing ...
The part missing is the automation - you should never have even seen those bad resumes.
Also you're talking about hiring for a JOB ... apples and oranges. Building a NWM in a way that attracts independent business owners is a little different from my perspective.
Just because someone is not an ideal match for your business (or consider you a match for them at this point) does not mean that there is no value to be gained. Or excellent alliances to be made.
But now we may never know - 'cause you're just looking to meet your needs and I don't happen to be shopping right now.
How smart might it be to get to know me (or anyone on this site) and put systems in place where I feel I know you a little better so I know like and trust you the next time I am looking for something interesting to do?
Provide value - get me on your list - stay front of mind ... that's why attraction marketing works.
Andrea
Your right but I should have clarified myself a bit
The job interviews I was doing was for a commission sales person so rather an independent and results driven orientation very, very similiar to network marketing. You get paid on your results.
I'm not looking to meet only my needs but "Our" needs. Working together with like minded people. Partners - Business Partners.
And I've always enjoyed the relationships I develop with other entrepreneurs whether they are in my business or not. It's the people who can understand the $200 investment into their MLM business is equivalent to a million dollar investment in the brick and mortar world that I want to work with.
We've all seen those people who sign up, dabble a bit, complain, make excuses, drop out and how much time have you spent with them to the detriment of your own family or free time?
Totally agree with you on providing value and I think you are one of those who will provide just that just don't get stuck in the hand holding mentality that devalues you and your time.
To your success,
Joyce Penner
www.joycepenner.com
Love Your Sense of Humor, Andrea
I admire your courage, Andrea. Maybe you should take sides more often!
And I love your sense of humor, so I'll just say, "Oh, fun, I get to comment back" (smile).
Every single person is a one-of-a-kind unique human being, in and of himself or herself - beating hearts and precious souls. And everyone is worthy of being treated with dignity and respect - and not to ever be disgarded like a piece of trash.
When you're speaking with a prospect and you find that the two of you have some common ground, share some similar interests, - you "click" - then both your lives will be enriched. Perhaps you'll want to do some masterminding, post comments at each other's blogs, share some social media strategies, or collaborate on cross promotions. That's a beautiful thing!
What I'm trying to get across is another matter altogether. I'm referring to utilizing your time wisely by "Sifting & Sorting", "Screening", "Qualifying" your prospects. Many network marketers stay on people like white on rice, leave voice message after voice message, follow up week after week, send email after email, and become thorns in the side by trying to "convince" someone to join them. This approach is fruitless and it doesn't work. And it's definitely a time waster.
When I was involved in a coaching and mentoring program, we were taught to, basically, "chase" people down - follow up, follow up, and then follow up some more! I used to promote an ebook that was about 90 pages long. People had to read the whole thing before they were entitled to a coaching session. Guess what I found out? You can lead a horse to water, but you CAN'T make it drink! I followed up with one really sweet gentleman in New York for almost 5 months. Every time I talked to him, he said he was still on page 8! I finally stopped calling. He was interesting and fun to talk to, but I just couldn't justify taking any more of my valuable time to continue the "relationship building".
Thanks for your insight!
~Melanie
Grin
Thanks Melanie -
Yeah there's a balance that we each need to find between our needs and their needs - to be sure.
Enjoyed your reply and am looking forward to your blog post - I promise to comment!
I appreciate you,
Andrea
Just my 2 cents worth
I don't know all the places this conversation has been up to now. I did read Joyce Penner's articles, and I can agree with where she is coming from. For myself, I have to admit that I got rather "turned off" of Mentoring for Free by their Color Classification of personalities. I'm a college graduate and then some, a sciece major with my share of psychology classes, and this "fitting everyone into four different personalities" was something I just could not buy. It even takes a lot of "color" out of the study of personalities. Lottie Jenvey
Lottieeeeeee
The colors we might consider are the colors of the flowers on your profile site. You are quite the photographer. Very impressive career and now on to network marketing. You have the energy of a teen.
There are so many promises made on the Internet, promises that we might find we want to believe in. Caution is always advised what ever your color. ;-)
RICK
Pearls of Wisdom
Lottie,
You are absolutely the epitome of wit and wisdom. I'll have to agree with Rick Lelchuk ... you've got the spirit and spunk of a teenager!
I graciously thank you for sharing your insights and for your courageous, right off-the-cuff remarks! I couldn't agree with you more.
I appreciate you,
Melanie Kissell