True Colors Reframing and Communicating

As we prepare for a new academic year, it is essential for us to continuously reframe our perspective and remember how to communicate with other coworkers. Recall back to when you went through True Colors training and how the facilitator reframed the perception others have toward a dominant color with the individual’s perspective of how they see oneself. Reframing your perspective is vital to working efficiently with others towards the common goal. Find a positive attribute in every person you work with, which will lead to reframing how you view them and what they contribute. Once you have reframed, remember each person has a different listening style when you communicate.

• Blues' Listening Style: They are focused more on your words and evaluate what is being communicated. When Blues listen, they give the benefit of the doubt to the speaker and assume sincerity.
• Golds’ Listening Style: They listen for details in order and can lose their train of thought if the conversation is interrupted. Golds do not want to fill in the blanks, but listen for which duty is their responsibility.
• Oranges’ Listening Style: They listen for entertainment, impact, and relevance. Oranges may lose interest if the speaker is not engaging or reveal immediately how the information is useful.
• Greens' Listening Style: They listen for information and want to know the purpose for the communication. They may assume that they have been approached to solve a problem.

Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words.
Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior.
Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits.
Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values.
Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.

— Mahatma Gandhi

Submitted by —
Sarah Webb
Senior Training Specialist,
One Stop Enrollment Center

Has your color spectrum changed over the years? How?

Describe those changes to your colleagues. Remember True Colors is a tool to understanding others and ourselves. It is a common language because we talk about it and use it to articulate our perspectives to each other. Keep it going.

Training Schedule, Student Affairs STAFF (SD 410) — Fall 2016  (Download PDF)

Training Schedule, Student Affairs STUDENT WORKERS (SD 417) — Fall 2016  (Download PDF)

Any questions or comments? Please send us an email at VPSA@utsa.edu.