Surrounded by Idiots

Author

Yolanda Yu
July 19, 2024

This ONE by Yolanda Yu

This ONE idea and its manifestations in life and career

Happy This ONE Friday!

Many of us feel like we are surrounded by “idiots” at work - people who are lazy, ineffective, mischievous, uncommitted, self-centered, etc. The book “Surrounded by Idiots” by Thomas Erikson explores this phenomenon and what’s creating it. The book categorizes people into four categories:

  • Reds: Dominant and assertive individuals who are driven by results and goals.

  • Yellows: Social and enthusiastic people who thrive on interaction and positivity.

  • Greens: Relaxed and friendly individuals who value harmony and stability.

  • Blues: Analytical and detail-oriented people who focus on accuracy and logic.

There is a broad correspondence to DISC. In highly personalized 1:1 coaching, I prefer traits-based tools (a portrait of the person) to typological tools like DISC (putting people in a bucket). But categorizing helps our discussion here, and we will go with it.

Try to imagine how each type might experience the others. For example, Reds and Blues might think of Yellows as social butterflies, gossipers, and too indirect.

We are used to experiencing the world with ourselves in the center and as the central reference point. But be mindful that our experience is only part of the truth, not the only truth.

In the picture below, the world through the photographer’s lens would be drastically different from what it is in other perspectives.

Source: boredpanda.com

Question For You

Do you often feel irritated by other people’s behavior? What new lens might be helpful?

If you want to improve your relationship and interpersonal dynamics at work, we can have a good chat.

Until next week,

Yolanda Yu
Coach and lifelong learner

​

Past issues

"Conflict Avoidance?" Look beyond

From People Pleaser to Powerful Communicator

the-technology-of-career.beehiiv.com/p/conflict-avoidance-look-beyond

The roles we play, what do cherries have in common with humans

Boundary, Authority, Role, and Task: the elements of a group

the-technology-of-career.beehiiv.com/p/roles-play-cherries-common-humans

Decisions fatigue - in search of the right, safe, and no-regret

How doubt and love dig up our life

the-technology-of-career.beehiiv.com/p/decisions-fatigue-search-right-safe-noregret

Emotions unmasked: the Kaleidoscope of Your Inner World

How high is your emotional literacy?

the-technology-of-career.beehiiv.com/p/emotions-unmasked-kaleidoscope-inner-world

Tackling Our Die-Hard Behavior patterns

A new response to an old situation, or an adequate response to a new situation

the-technology-of-career.beehiiv.com/p/tackling-diehard-behavior-patterns

The power of boundaries

Finding fluidity and freedom through rigidity

the-technology-of-career.beehiiv.com/p/power-boundaries

The Trap of Passiveness: Why We Resist Taking Control

Has "going with the flow" ceased working for you? Time to change!

the-technology-of-career.beehiiv.com/p/trap-passiveness-resist-taking-control

Need more visibility in your company but...

Not "the kind of person who shows off"?

the-technology-of-career.beehiiv.com/p/need-visibility-company

Don't set goals, set a system that wins

I was with Daniel Pieper at the “Futureproofing your career” webinar last Tuesday. Daniel is the former CIO of Hoolah, a fintech startup acquired by ShopBack a few years ago.

About this newsletter: You are receiving this email because you have engaged me as a coach or explored my service before. Please excuse me for taking the liberty of sending you the first issues. If you wish to unsubscribe from it, please reply to the email. I will remove you from the mailing list.

Every Friday, I share ONE idea and its manifestations and 1 question for you to ponder. Other ingredients you can expect will be book extracts, quotes, metaphors, tools, resources, and mini-exercises to keep growing your self-awareness.