HELPING RYE STUDENTS SUCCEED

Who am I? Who are they?How can we work better together?

REASONS TO CONSIDER PERSONALITY TRAINING

• Have you ever had that student that asked why all the time?

• Needed to know the schedule for orientations and exactly what they would be doing for the weekend?

• Have a student that never seemed able to be serious?

• Have a host parent tell you that he/she cannot manage the personality difference between the student/parent

• Have a student that appears to struggle with the culture within the home?

• Have a committee member that does not fit in with the team?

BENEFITS OF COLORS PERSONALITY INVENTORY

• It provides a common language – Based off of Myers Briggs; easier to understand

• "It has implications for relationships and deeper understandings of where people are coming from. It shows that you can both be correct; you can start to look at a person in a different light.“ Kashiwa

• Allows RYE personnel to work better together/positive interactions

• Explore dynamics with students, creates better relationships with Rotarians and host families.

BENEFITS CONTINUED

• Process Information – Better decision making in relationships

• Enhanced Communication Skills

• Form Successful Relationships

• Reduces Stress in the teen (b/c of increased understanding of self and others)

• Easy to understand/assimilate the information and apply it to current relationships –Four Types to remember instead of 16 with Myers Briggs

• Plus, it’s fun to do! Teens (and adults) love to explore who they are!

TRUE COLORS

• Don Lowry created the metaphor, True Colors™, to translate complicated personality and learning theory into practical information we can all understand and use. He has developed an easy and entertaining way to understand ourselves and others.

• Each person is a blend or spectrum of the four colors – personality types.

• For students, the purpose is to assist them in identifying their personality style, and the strengths and weaknesses associated with each color, as well as a method of improving inter-personal relationships with others, particularly host families (by building satisfying relationships).

USES OF PERSONALITY INVENTORIES

• Inbound parent orientation

• Counselor & LC trainings

• RYE district or club committee

• Beyond the world of RYE – Use in your club to further communication and successful implementation of projects

PART II

WHY THE EMPHASIS ON USING PERSONALITY TRAINING WITH TEENS?

TEEN BRAIN – DEVELOPMENTAL UNDERSTANDING

• Brain research has shown that the brain continues to grow until early 20’s.

• The Frontal cortex is the last part of the brain to fully develop.

• The Frontal Cortex is responsible for decision making, control of purposeful behavior, consciousness and emotions.

TEEN BRAIN AND EMOTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, NOT WHAT YOU THINK

• Inability to Identify Emotions - Teen brain

WHY TEENS NEED MORE TRAINING

• Teens and adults used different parts of their brains to process what they were feeling.

• The teens mostly used the amygdala, a small almond shaped region that guides instinctual or "gut" reactions.

• Adults rely on the frontal cortex, which governs reason and planning.

• As the teens got older, the center of activity shifted more toward the frontal cortex and away from the cruder response of the amygdala.

(Reactions, rather than rational thought, come more from the amygdala,

deep in the brain, than the frontal cortex)

DECISION MAKING IN THE BRAINS OF TEENS

• Teens, it seems, are less willing than adults to work to uncover all the available information, and more likely to just go with the flow.

• Teens are just better at handling uncertainty than their older counterparts.

• Implications for RYE: They may have a greater resiliency to the small issues that arise, but if there are larger issues/decisions to be made, they may be unable to cope with the emotions and decisions they are faced with on exchange. That is where we step in to help.

PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTATION AT OUTBOUND ORIENTATION

• Prepare at least two hours (or more) for the basic implementation of the inventory and discussion of results.

• Materials – Inventory, handouts, talking points for presenter.

• Be prepared to have fun during this activity, joke, laugh and share. You get to learn as much about your students as they do about themselves. It’s a great jumping off point with individual students to talk about concerns you may have regarding their year abroad.

• Utilize Rotex to drive home major points at the end with in-depth discussion of host families and building relationships after the structured activity.

Implementation of Activity:

Taking the Inventory & Processing the Results

THE FOUR COLORS….

• First color:

• It is your Brightest & most dominant of personality traits; you operate in this color

-This color is most likely the attributes you demonstrate as your natural self (happens automatically, like eating w/ dominant hand)

• Second color:

• is very significant and can have a major influence over 1st. It may be shining as brightly as your first color.

• Third Color: • May or may not recognize some of these characteristics within

your personality style.

• Fourth color: • This is significant because these characteristics are the least

natural to you. -You may admire them in others or they may cause the most

irritation or conflict that you have with others. -This is because they are the least natural for you, and

chances are, the least understood and appreciated.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A BLUE

The Nurturer Blue is:

•Sensitive To Needs Of Others. •Sincere; Expresses Appreciation. •Cooperative, Collaborative, Creative. •Caring, Team Builder And Player. •People Person and engages others. •Artistic, inspirational and spiritual. •Inclusive, a natural mediator and peacemaker. •Idealistic. Intuitive. Romantic. Loyal. •Seeks Unity And Harmony and is often the caretaker.

Famous Blues: Mozart, Tin Man (Wizard of Oz), Thomas Jefferson, Cinderella,Ghandi, Mohammed Ali, Jimmy Carter

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GREEN

THE VISIONARY GREEN

• Looks Forward And Sees Impact Of Actions Taken Now.

• Explores All Facets Before Deciding. Checks for Accuracy.

• Careful Planner. Systematic. Enlivened By Work.

• Status Quo Buster. Designer Of Change. Inventive.

• Systematic. Logical. Theoretical. Self-Sufficient.

• Often Not In The Mainstream. Persistent. Thorough.

• Intellectual. Inquisitive. Impartial. Improvement Oriented.

• Famous Greens: Socrates, Sherlock Holmes, Benjamin Franklin, Carl Jung, Thomas Edison, Eleanor Roosevelt, Katherine Hepburn, Rosalyn Carter, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Scarecrow (Wizard of Oz)

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOLDTRADITIONAL GOLD

•Respects Authority Rules, Routines, Policies. •Allegiant, Faithful, Dependable, Prepared, Efficient. •Remembers The Traditions That Work. Values Family. •Work Comes Before Play. Practical. Systematic. Orderly. •Identifies With Groups. Strives For A Sense Of Security. •Thorough, Sensible, Punctual, Conventional, Proper. •A Right Way To Do Everything. Stick-To-It-tivness. •Evaluates Actions As Right Or Wrong. •Stable. Organized. Punctual. Helpful.

Famous Golds: Mother Teresa, Santa Claus, George Washington, Henry Ford, Florence Nightingale, Dorothy (Wizard of OZ)

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ORANGEADVENTUROUS ORANGE

•"Just Do It" Action Oriented. •Quick-witted, charming, spontaneous •Playful, Injects fun into work. •Lives in the here & now, a risk taker and creative. •Enjoys diversity, variety, competition. •Multi-tasker, cheerful, energetic. & bold. •Quick thinking and acting. Takes charge. •High visibility performer. Accepts challenges. •Enjoys problem solving and is a negotiator. •Performs well under pressure. Resilient.

Famous Oranges: JFK, Amelia Earhart, Lucille Ball, Rhett Butler, FDR, Francis of Assissi, Lee Iacocca, Winston Churchill, Garfield (cartoon character), Michael Jordan, Lion (Wizard of Oz) and Donald Trump

http://studyskills.com/parents/motivation-procrastination/true-colors-the-personality-of-education/

Solid Gold

Curious Green

True Blue

Action Orange

Esteemed for Being dependable Discovering new

insights

Being a good

listener

Being fun and

taking risks

Stressed by Lack of order Feeling inadequate Feeling

artificial

Restrictions

On the job Organizer Pragmatist Peacemaker Energizer

Primary

needs

To provide

stability and

order; Be in

Control

To be competent

and rational

To be

authentic/

care for

others

To be free and

spontaneous

Longs for Security Insights and

knowledge

Love and

acceptance

Freedom

Trust Authority and

tradition

Facts and logic Intuition and

feelings

Impulses

GOLD GREEN BLUE ORANGE

Rigid Intellectual snob Stuck in / lives in the past Irresponsible, Indecisive

Dull, boring Heartless, aloof Overly emotional Goofs off too much

Opinionated Ruthless, unfeeling Bleeding heart Manipulative

Unimaginative Unrealistic Mushy Not to be trusted

Bossy Emotionally controlled, cool or

cold

Hopelessly naïve Not able to stay on task

Predictable Afraid to open up Too tender hearted Resists closure or making

decisions

Controlling Critical, fault-finding Easily duped Obnoxious

Stubborn Unfair Smothering Flaky

System-bound Unappreciative of others Too touchy-feely/Soft Disobey rules

Judgmental Arrogant Pushover Scattered

Uptight Doesn’t care about people,

Lacks mercy

Talks too much Cluttered

Autocratic Eccentric, weird Too trusting, groveling Uncontrollable, Not a Team

Player

Others May See You As:

Golds Will Frustrate Others

By:

Golds Are Frustrated By: On A Bad Day Golds Will:

Control Freak/Being bossy Being Irresponsible Complain, wallow in self

pity

Working long hours Lack of Planning Experience a great deal of

stress, worry

Being Obsessive Lack Discipline Be unforgiving/Judge

Others maliciously

Being Judgmental Laziness Become overly athoritative

Having to plan for

everything

Risk taking/illegal behavior Experience psychosomatic

problems

Blues Will Frustrate Others

By:

Blues Are Frustrated By: On A Bad Day Blues Will

Lack of planning Lying Fantasize and day dream

Avoiding Conflict &

Suppressing problems

Personal Rejection Lie to save face

Passive Violence Do anything to get

attention/withdraw so

others will feel sorry for

you

Too Generous Lack of Communication Become depressed/passive

resistance

Overly Sentimental Lack of Close Friends Yell and scream

Sarcasm Fish for Compliments

Greens Will Frustrate

Others By:

Greens Are Frustrated By: On A Bad Day Greens Will

Not being sociable Small talk Become overly indecisive

Living in the future Plagiarism Refuse to cooperate with

others/become more aloof

Wordy Routine Use sarcasm/put others

down

Blowing up when criticized Illogical Arguments Demand unreasonable

perfection

Not going with the flow Social Functions Become highly critical of

self and others

Being too independent Incompetence Cold shoulder to others

Oranges Will Frustrate

Others By:

Oranges Are Frustrated By: On A Bad Day Oranges will

Ignoring rules Rules/Laws Become rude

Lack of Planning/Being

undisciplined

Same routine Break rules for spite

Quick tempered Deadlines Lie/Cheat to control the

situation

Thinking out loud Lack of adventure Use drugs/alcohol

Impulse buying Too much structure Run Away/quit/drop out

Sarcastic Paperwork Become verbally abusive

Make bad, spontaneous

decisions

Colors can be complimentary

or they can conflict with one another

• Green and Orange compliment each other

• Gold and Blue compliment each other

• Green and Blue conflict

• Gold and Orange conflict

COMPATIBILITY

TALKING POINTS WITH STUDENTS

• Go over characteristics of each color – including strengths and weaknesses.

• Provide examples of famous people – helps with understanding

• Have them identify their family member colors (or best friends) and discuss the relationships they have with them and why

• Discuss why each color is necessary (example group project and then relate to working on RYE presentation at a district conference)

TALKING POINTS CONTINUED

• Discuss the language of each color and how to approach/communicate with each color.

• Discuss stressors for each color and coping mechanisms

• Other Questions you may ask:• Do you see yourself differently than how others see you?

• Does this lead to misunderstandings?

• How might this influence your ability to feel connected to others? What do you foresee happening on your exchange?

ACTIVITY

• Meet with your color, read the handouts, discuss does the description match your personal experiences at home, friends and at school.

• How might your color be helpful on exchange?

• What barriers does your primary color bring to your exchange?

• How might you employ your second color to help you cope/be successful?

• What are your strengths?

• What do you value?

• What do you need to be comfortable and happy?

USING WITH HOST FAMILIESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

• What color is your RYE child? What are the colors of your other children?

• Do you see personality conflict or compatibility?

• How would personality impact the problems you currently see in you and your child’s relationship?

• What color is your co-parent’s personality?

• Do you see compatibility or conflict with your co-parents relationship with your child or children?

• What are ways to handle this in your family?

WHO IS ON YOUR RYE COMMITTEE

If you always tend to have similar colors on your RYE committee, make an effort to think deeply about why.

It is human nature to quickly recognize and gravitate towards those who are like us.

This may limit our ability to grow and effectively lead a wide range of students, host families and

Interactions with club counselors.

CONCLUSION

• Ensure that you present that each of has all colors and that one is not better than any other. All colors are useful. We have the ability to pull out the color card we need at any time in any relationship.

• We tend to fall back on our dominant color when stressed.

• Color domination can change over time.

• Ensure that each student/host family member/Rotarian is able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their dominant color.

TRUE COLORS INTERNATIONAL

Has training in the following languages (at this time)

Portuguese

Spanish

French Canadian

Cantonese

Japanese

German

English

RESOURCES FOR PRINTABLE QUIZZES AND INFO ABOUT PERSONALITY TYPES

• https://truecolorsintl.com/

• http://www.nfty.org/_kd/Items/actions.cfm?action=Show&item_id=12954&destination=ShowItem

• http://www.ohio.k12.ky.us/userfiles/1140/Personality-Test-for-Teaming.pdf

• http://www.creighton.edu/fileadmin/user/njslc/docs/True_Colors.pdf

• http://www.theslideprojector.com/pdffiles/learnertypes.pdf

• http://Slideshare.net is a great resource for presentations on Colors

CINDY HARRISON

CEHAZ@COX.NETD5500 – SOUTHERN ARIZONA

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO CONDUCT THIS PRESENTATION FOR YOU AT THE RYE PRECONVENTION

PRECONVENTION