Surrounded by Idiots

Introduction

Human behaviour is, for the most part, complex and unclear.

• We all encounter frustrating people in our lives - those we struggle to understand regardless of our efforts.
• However, these so-called "idiots" are often simply people who think and communicate differently from us. They are worthy of respect, understanding, and value.
  

Surrounded by idiots by Thomas Erikson simplifies the complexities of interpersonal communication by identifying four behavioural profiles.

• Red - Bold and brash, natural-born leaders with ambitious goals.
• Yellow - Creative and optimistic, true social butterflies.
• Green - Relaxed, friendly and loyal, the most selfless of the bunch.
• Blue - Keen minded, analytical and detail-oriented.

Communication Happens on the Listener's Terms

Everything we say is filtered through the listener's unique perspective.

• Their experiences, biases and expectations shape how they interpret our message.
• This means the message received might not perfectly match the message intended.

While we cannot control how someone interprets out words, we can tailor our approach to how others prefer to be treated to become to foster better communication and connection.

Human Behaviours

No matter how strange it might seem, in theory, every kind of behaviour is normal. In fact, human behaviours exist on a spectrum, with some key characteristics:

• Predictable Patterns: While not every reaction is perfectly foreseeable, people tend to respond similarly in familiar situations. This allows us to anticipate behaviour to some degree.
• Understanding Through Observation: By observing how people act in different situations, we gain valuable insights into their motivations. Considering the "why" behind behaviour fosters empathy and allows for more effective interactions.
• Individual Variations: Even within shared experiences, people react uniquely. Recognizing this individuality is key to effective communication, building strong relationships and fostering tolerance and patience with others.
• Capacity for Change: Through active listening, reflection, and open communication, we can adapt and respond appropriately to new situations.

The Way We Are

Our behaviour arises from a combination of heredity (nature) and environment (nurture).

• Genetic traits, passed down through generations, influence our predispositions.
• While children might be born with a natural curiosity and impulsiveness, environmental factors shape these traits as they learn and develop.

Key influences:

• Modelling: We often mimic behaviours we observe, particularly from parents who act as role models.
• Core values: Instilled by parents and educators at a young age (e.g., importance of education, respect for others), these foundational principles guide our choices.
• Attitudes: Formed through experiences and interpretations of those experiences, our attitudes are more flexible and can change over time.

Core values and attitudes form our core behaviour, the "real person" we strive to be, free from external influences.

• Some are always themselves because they do not care about being perceived a certain way.

However, the majority of us often adapt our behaviour to specific situations, creating a moderated behaviour.

• In other words, we wear different "mask" to navigate social interactions and expectations.

DISA System

DiSC assessments are self-reported behavioural assessments developed by psychologist William Moulton Marston in 1928.

• DiSC assessments categorize individuals into four primary styles (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness), aiming to improve workplace dynamics by providing insights into individual preferences for communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
  
• However, it is important to interpret the results with caution, as they represent a simplified framework of complex human behaviour.

Building on the DISA (Dominance, Inducement, Submission and Analytic ability) system framework, Thomas Erikson's book "Surrounded by Idiots" further simplifies the four styles into easily identifiable colours (Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue) to help readers quickly grasp personality differences and improve communication.

• Around 80% of people have a combination of two dominant behavioural colours.
• Approximately 5% have only one dominant colour.
• The remaining population is influenced by a combination of three colours.
  

NOTE: Beyond our words, different personality types project distinct nonverbal cues through their body language, influencing how others perceive them.

No one, regardless of gender, is entirely perfect without flaws.

• Every personality trait can be beneficial in some situations and detrimental in others.

Red Behaviour

Red personalities are bold, ambitious and driven, but also potentially hot-tempered, rash or dominant.

• They set ambitious goals that might seem impossible to others.
• They are highly competitive and constantly push themselves to achieve their dreams.
• They have unshakeable confidence and truly believe "anything is possible" with hard work.

Weaknesses

• They prioritize their goals and may be willing to bend the rules if they perceive the benefits outweigh the risk.
• Their honesty can be refreshingly blunt, but their directness can sometimes come across as impatience or aggression.
• Their intense competitiveness and drive can irritate others.
• Their belief in their own abilities can lead to a desire to control those around them.
• They quickly get bored with the status quo and seek change.

Yellow Behaviour

Yellow personalities are optimistic and cheerful.

• They have a bright outlook on life and live to the fullest, always seeking opportunities for enjoyment.
• They are naturally social butterflies, happily chatting with anyone and readily forming relationships.
• Their resourcefulness shines through as they think outside the box to find creative solutions.
  

Weaknesses

• They tend to be very talkative and enthusiastic, which can sometimes lead to them unintentionally taking over conversations
• Unconsciously, they tend to interrupt and steer conversations towards topics they find interesting, making them bad listeners.
• Their decisions can sometimes be impulsive, made based on intuition rather than extensive analysis.
  
• They excel at launching projects with their resourcefulness and creativity. However, their dislike for structure and details (carelessness) can make them struggle with follow-through.
• The other problem with them is they are all talk and no action, leading to slow work progress.

Green Behaviour

Green personalities are the most common type, often embodying a balance of the other colours. Imagine Reds as the driven leaders, Yellows as the enthusiastic entertainers and Blues as the detail-oriented perfectionists.

• They are calm and easy-going. They approach life with a leisurely pace, avoid unnecessary drama and conflict.
  
• Their passive nature allows them to be patient listeners and very tolerant towards others' behaviours.
• Their genuine interest in others and willingness to offer help without seeking personal gain make them invaluable team players.
• They prioritize the team's needs over their own.

Weaknesses

• Their kindness could be taken advantage of by some.
  
• Trying to find common ground can make it difficult for them to give clear opinions. This indecisiveness can stem from their efforts to please everyone else.
• To alleviate the pressure of not speaking their minds directly, they resort to talking behind people's backs.
• They tend to be more comfortable with their initial viewpoint and may resist changing it, even in the face of strong evidence.
• Their passive nature leads them to avoid taking action and be satisfied with the current status quo.

Blue Behaviour

Blue personalities are reserved (cautious), analytical, detail-oriented and possess a high regard for quality.

• They operate best in the background, meticulously analysing situations to identify potential errors and risks.
• They back up their insights with facts and figures, demonstrating their logical and rational thinking.
• Their world is organized in a specific way, with everything clearly labelled for optimal efficiency.
• Every detail is scrutinized, as quality is paramount to them.

Weaknesses

• While Blues possess a wealth of knowledge, their modesty and introverted nature often lead them to keep it to themselves unless directly prompted. This can be a missed opportunity for collaboration and problem-solving within a team.
• Additionally, blues rarely take any major risks, prioritizing predictability over potential breakthroughs. This aversion to risk can lead to frustration when unexpected situations arise.
• They see themselves as realists, grounded in practicality. However, others might perceive them as pessimists due to their cautious and critical nature.
• Their perfectionism makes it difficult for them to overlook flaws, leading to a struggle with finishing tasks as there is always room for improvement in their eyes.
• Oftentimes, they struggle to make quick decisions, and their decision-making slows down even further when they are feeling stressed.
• Their critical thinking can easily turn to suspicion and questioning those around them because they only trust themselves and their own eyes.

Adaptation

As with all knowledge, the key lies in applying it.

• Through active practice, we can transform theoretical knowledge into real competence.
  

In an ideal world, everyone could express themselves freely without sparkling conflict.

• However, the reality presents a messier situation, filled with the richness of diverse human personalities.
  
• Effective communication often requires us to be flexible and adjust our approach to bridge these differences.
• Adaptation is about understanding someone's preferred communication style, like Reds who often favour quick and direct messages, Yellows appreciate a more easy-going and happy-go-lucky atmosphere and focusing on the big picture rather than getting bogged down in details, Greens value peace, quiet, inactivity, stability and predictable routines while Blues demand facts, details and quality.
  
• Nonetheless, exhibiting behaviours outside our core personalities takes ability, training, and energy.

While adaptability is crucial for effective communication, it should not come at the expense of losing ourselves entirely.

• Imagine a world where everyone constantly adjusts to everyone else. It would be a world devoid of genuine self-expression!
  
• Therefore, be mindful of when to adjust your behaviour to bridge differences, but also hold onto your core personality traits that make you, you.
  

Group Dynamics

A team with a healthy mix of personalities can create a strong dynamic.

• Yellows might spark creative ideas, Reds can provide direction, Greens can excel at collaboration and implementation, and Blues can ensure quality control.

People with similar working styles (natural combination) tend to work harmoniously.

• For example, those who are high-spirited, like red and yellow, might collaborate well, while those who prefer a steady pace, like blue and green, could also find success together.

Beyond individual strengths, different personality types can also complement each other's work styles.

• For instance, the meticulousness of Blues can ensure Reds' bold ideas have a solid foundation before implementation.
• Yellows bring enthusiasm and creativity, Greens excel at implementation.

Summary

While we intuitively grasp that people are both unique individuals (act and perceive differently) and share commonalities, this understanding often takes time to refine.

• As children, we likely noticed it was easier to connect with some friends than others. These early experiences shape our social circles, leading us to gravitate towards those who share similar personality traits.
• However, the complexities of working life throw us together with a diverse range of colleagues – from highly skilled individuals to those who seem to grapple with certain concepts.

The book "Surrounded by Idiots" offers a practical framework to bridge this gap.

• By using well-illustrated real-life examples to contrast the behaviours of people with different personalities, the book equips us with the understanding to improve communication and navigate interactions with a broader range of people.