True Coaching:
Effective Communication
Tom Doyle
www.truecoaching.net
tkdoyle@speakeasy.net
True Colors Word Sort
ORANGE
GOLD
BLUE
GREEN
Active
Variety
Sports
Organized
Plan
Neat
Nice
Helpful
Friends
Learning
Science
Privacy
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_______
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Fun
Action
Contests
Clean
On-Time
Honest
Caring
People
Feelings
Curious
Ideas
Questions
_______
_______
_______
_______
Playful
Quick
Adventurous
Helpful
Trustworthy
Dependable
Kind
Understanding
Giving
Independent
Exploring
Doing Well
_______
_______
_______
_______
Busy
Free
Winning
Follow Rules
Useful
Save Money
Sharing
Getting Along
Animals
Thinking
Solving Problems
Challenge
_______
_______
_______
_______
Exciting
Lively
Hands-On
Pride
Tradition
Do Things Right
Nature
Easy Going
Happy Endings
Books
Math
Making Sense
_______
_______
_______
_______
Total
Total
Total
Total
BLUE
GREEN
ORANGE
GOLD
Score: 4 the one most like you; 3 next most like you; 2 the next group; 1 least like you.
Approx. Population %
BLUE
15%
GREEN
15%
GOLD
35%
ORANGE
35%
True Colors License Plate Game
Identify which color (or a first and second color) would be most likely to sport the
following license plates. Be prepared to explain why you chose those colors:
1. YBNORMAL
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2. GRRR8FUL
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3. UGOT2BU
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4. NTW8N4U
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5. TYM2QLT`
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6. HIONMTS
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7. LATE
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8. WANDERR
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9. CHKMATE
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10. TMSCORES
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11. N2FISHING
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12. PRNCISS
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13. IRESCU
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14. IX FE
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15. 4EN JUNK
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16. R U MINE
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17. L84AD8
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18. LOVMYHON
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19. LIV42DA
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20. PD2MUCH
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4
21. BBRILANT
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22. INTODMUD
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23. B HAP E
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24. DOITRT
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25. WIFE OKD
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26. SLYPIG
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27. GOANYWR
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28. JUSBYIT
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29. PB4WEGO
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30. DYRSTR8S
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31. X QQ ME
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Suggest a license plate or two for each of the colors:
GOLD
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BLUE
__________________
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GREEN
__________________
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ORANGE
__________________
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Listening Styles
© Mary Miscisin 2006
Blue Listening Style
During conversations a Blue is focusing on more than just the words. They are attending to the
meaning behind the message. They evaluate what they see, hear, and feel is being
communicated, first about the speaker, then the message. They listen for the suggested values
and assess whether theirs are in alignment or not. If they are not, then Blues consider whether the
values should be accepted or rejected. This is one way of determining how they feel about he
speaker. They get a sense of the extenuating circumstances around the speaker and will give the
benefit of the doubt if they feel the person is sincere and cares about others. Once they have
determined that it is okay to relate to the speaker, then they discern how they feel about the
message. The message will not get through fully if the relationship is not first established.
Gold Listening Style
Golds listen for details- in order. They can lose their train of thought if the conversation sis
interrupted or a person speaks off target. They like a well-planned, direct exchange and do not
want to fill in the blanks. Golds listen for responsibility. They listen for the purpose of gathering
particulars so they know what their part is. They pay attention and ask themselves, “What is my
duty? What should I do with this information?” Golds are concerned with whether something is
right or wrong. They are listening to decide the correctness of the speakers’ intentions as well as
their status within the given context. The more they are able to determine the appropriateness of
an interaction or response, the more comfortable they are in conversing.
Green Listening Style
Greens listen for information and want to know the purpose for the communication. Often, they
assume the communicator has approached them to solve a problem or to exchange necessary or
intriguing material. They tune out redundancy, extreme emotion, and subjects that are of little
interest to them. They seem to automatically click into data gathering and concept or strategy
formation. They focus so intensely on thinking about and processing the “data” presented that
they regularly miss out on the additional messages supplied by non=verbal communication such
as tonality, body language, and facial expressions. You may be sharing to gain empathy and
instead they are concentrating on solving your challenge, offering little or no outward signs of
compassion, while all the while in their minds, they are demonstrating the ultimate compassion
by taking the time to solver your problem.
Orange Listening Style
Oranges listen for entertainment, impact, relevance, and usefulness. Unless you are incredibly
engaging or reveal immediately how the information you are conveying is useful to an Orange,
they may lose interest, especially if your communication is lengthy. If you fail to stimulate or
keep their interest, they will do it themselves, making connections to what you are saying so they
can in turn tell you a colorful story of something that happened to them. Their minds can whirl a
mile-a-minute as they playfully hop from subject to subject. They also try to figure out the
motive of the person speaking. “What do they want, need, or expect from me?” They do this
almost simultaneously as they look for opportunities for themselves. They want to be able to take
action with what is said, be it to share a quick joke, seize a challenge, or perform some feat. They
listen in the present and process contextually, usually not linking so much to the past or distant
future, but instead figuring out what they can do with the information in the moment or near
future.
True Colors Course Evaluation Form
Site: Manhasset HS
Date: Feb. 3, 2011
Name of Presenter: Tom Doyle
Your Colors: _________________________________
Please indicate your agreement with each of the following statements by circling the
appropriate number:
Strongly
Strongly
Agree
Disagree
1. Course met the stated objectives.
5
4
3
2
1
2. Instructor skillfully presented the material.
5
4
3
2
1
3. Instructor was well qualified & knowledgeable. 5
4
3
2
1
4. Materials provided were useful for improving
Instruction.
5
4
3
2
1
5. Facilities were appropriate for the program.
5
4
3
2
1
6. I learned something new today!
5
4
3
2
1
7. I had fun learning about the Colors!
5
4
3
2
1
Describe your overall reaction to this program.________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Suggestions for improving the workshop. ____________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Would you recommend this course to others?__________________________________
Thank you for completing this form!