Green Personality: Reliability and Team Focus
Erikson portrays Greens as reliable, team-focused people motivated to avoid causing trouble and to please others. The description can prompt discussion of teamwork, but a label alone does not establish someone’s capacity or reliability.
THE IDEA
Once They’ve Said They’ll Do Something, You Can Rest Assured That It Will Be Done
In Erikson’s portrait, if a Green says that he will do something, you can be confident that he’ll do it. If it’s in his power to deliver, he will. It won’t be done in the shortest amount of time possible, but it will show up in your in-box roughly within the expected time frame. Greens don’t want to be caught failing to deliver, as this might cause trouble for others. And because they’re good team players, they don’t want to do anything that can cause problems for the team. Team comes before self, the team being the company, crew, football team, or family. For the Green, it’s natural to look after everyone else around them.
The reason why everyone works so well with Greens is a topic for debate. In some situations, it’s simply because they don’t like conflict. Mostly, however, it’s because they’re controlled by their desire to make those around them happy and satisfied. If they can please you with a job well done, they’ll do it. The desire to please others verges on being a driving force for Greens. It comes naturally and requires no effort. And this selflessness is accompanied by an exalted serenity that lowers the stress level of those around them.
When to use it
Delegating work based on a person’s demonstrated follow-through, current capacity, and understanding of the commitment.
Choosing an event coordinator by discussing the person’s interest, organizing skills, and available time rather than relying on a color label.
Sharing household or holiday-planning work explicitly, checking that someone’s wish to please others has not led them to accept too much.
When forming a project team, discussing how members will maintain cooperation and raise concerns without overloading the people who tend to agree.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Delivering a Report on Time
A Green team member promises to complete a project report by Friday. Despite a busy week, they deliver it on Thursday afternoon, ensuring it is thorough and error-free, because they do not want to let the team down or cause delays.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
Can you recall a situation where a team member's reliability significantly improved the outcome of a project? How did that person's actions affect the group?
How does your own desire to please others influence your work or relationships? Do you relate more to the Green personality or another style?
What strategies can you use to support a Green colleague so they feel appreciated without overcommitting?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Surrounded By Idiots (Thomas Erikson)