Surrounded by Idiots: The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life)

by Thomas Erikson

DISC—an acronym that stands for Dominance, Inspiration, Stability, and Compliance ability—system.

Everything you say to a person is filtered through his frames of reference, biases, and preconceived ideas.

Though individual actions can, of course, be right or wrong, there is really no pattern of behavior that is right or wrong.

All of us carry many such core values. We know instinctively what is right and what is not. No one can take these core values away from me.

my core values and my attitudes affect how I choose my behavior. Together they form my core behavior, the real person I want to be. My core behavior is how I act in complete freedom, without the influence of any external factors at all.

They know just as well as everyone else that it’s wrong to break the rules; however, since it’s quicker that way, they do it anyway.

their intentions—to get the job done.

Reds are the ones who always believe they are surrounded by idiots.

This is another thing Greens often do—turn frustration inwards and feel awful so that everyone notices

This aversion to conflict also causes many other challenges, such as stubbornness, ambiguity, and resistance to change.

In small groups of two or three people, they will gladly vent their displeasure.

Blues are perceived as highly critical and almost suspicious. They miss nothing, and they have a tendency to deliver their observations in an insensitive fashion.

a Green, who can be personal, but only in small groups and in a controlled environment.

A Blue doesn’t need small talk.

We all adapt to one another all the time. It’s part of the social game, the visible and invisible communication that is constantly in progress.