Assessments:  So Many Choices

by Cindy Stradling

When I meet with clients and they are interested in conducting an assessment for their organizations I am very careful to find out why they want to conduct and assessment and what information they intend to obtain.  There are so many choices, I could write blogs for the next six months and still not have explored all of them.  For the month of April I am going to share with you my experience of  four of the assessments that I have personally taken. 

Week Four- True Colors

When I first started my training career I looked for an assessment that was fun, engaging and provided the opportunity for people to learn more about themselves and others.  True Colors was certainly a lot of fun and engaging.  More importantly it provided me the opportunity to understand my preferences in communicating with others, taking action and how I perceived the world.  I was thrilled to become certified as a True Colors facilitator and I still recommend it to groups who want a fun and interactive workshop for teams.  In fact it is called “edu-tainment” by many people.

The True Colors metaphor was developed by Don Lowry in 1978 and was influenced by earlier work done by David Keirsey.  Keirsey had built his work on the Myers Briggs model and the Myers Brigs was influenced by Carl Jung.

What True Colors is:

• A metaphor for understanding temperament
• Intended to help us celebrate, appreciate and value the unique blend of the four temperament types in each of us
• An interactive and enjoyable vehicle of learning about others and ourselves

What True Colors is not:

• A panacea
• An attempt to explain fully the complexity of human behaviour
• To be used to “label” or “stereotype” people, but to help us understand them better

It is important to remember these points when taking a True Colors assessment:

• Each of us is a blend of all four temperaments
• Each of us has a “core” temperament type through which we achieve our self-esteem
• No one individual blend or temperament is better than another, only different
• Differences in others are their “gifts” to us that make them unique.
• Each temperament type has unique strengths to offer.

The assessment is done manually in the workshop and you get your results right away.  The results will indicate your Core Needs, Values and Attributes one of four colors Green, Blue, Orange or Gold categories.

Core Needs & Values of Green – Information, Knowledge, Intellectual Competence

A few Attributes

• “Should be able to”
• “Why”
• Intellectual
• Theoretical
• Idea People
• Philosophical
• Very Complex
• Perfectionists, visionaries, futurists
• Can never know enough
• Cool, calm & collected

Core Needs & Values of Blue  – Communication, Relationships

A few Attributes

• Mediators
• Optimistic
• Caretakers
• Passionate
• Peacemakers
• True Romantics
• Cause Oriented
• Need to Feel “Special”
• Always has a kind word

Core Needs & Values of Orange  – Adventure, Spontaneity, Freedom

A few Attributes

• Playful
• Energetic, need for high mobility
• Charming
• Risk-taker
• “Just Do It”
• Test Limits- pushes the boundaries
• Visual & kinesthetic
• Master negotiator
• Creative, Inventive
• “Let’s make a deal”
• A natural entertainer – quick witted

Core Needs & Values of Gold  – Duty, Responsibility, Being Prepared

A few Attributes

• “Be Prepared
• Love to plan
• Detail oriented
• Service oriented
• Values family traditions
• Helpful & trustworthy
• Conservative & Stable
• “Should” & “Should Not”
• Rarely breaks the speed limit
• Strives for a sense of security

My results indicated my core temperament Color was actually almost a tie between Orange and Gold. I believe it is a true representation of my core values, needs and preferences.

There are many assessments available today and I have had fun sharing my experience of the four of the assessments I personally have taken.  I hope you have too.