Surrounded by idiots or is it you?

Ever left a meeting thinking, “How can they not see what I see?”

Thomas Erikson’s Surrounded by Idiots explains why that happens — and how to fix it.

He says people communicate in four colour languages:

🔴 Reds – The Drivers

 Fast, decisive, goal-obsessed. They want results yesterday.

🟡 Yellows – The Inspirers

 Enthusiastic, social, full of ideas. Great at starting… not always finishing.

🟢 Greens – The Supporters

 Calm, loyal, empathetic. They keep teams grounded and steady.

🔵 Blues – The Analysts

 Detail-driven, logical, cautious. They see the flaws others miss.

The problem?

We tend to speak in our colour and expect others to understand.

The solution?

👉 Adapt your communication to their colour.

✅ Talking to a Red? Be direct and brief.

✅ With a Yellow? Be positive and let them talk.

✅ With a Green? Slow down and show empathy.

✅ With a Blue? Bring facts, not fluff.

When you adjust your approach, “idiots” turn into allies — and communication turns into collaboration.

💬So the next time someone frustrates you, ask yourself — are they really difficult… or just a different colour?