Throughout history, the human race has been offered a never-ending stream of “one-size-fits-all” solutions to everything from education to customer service. This method simply doesn’t work and it’s never going to — no matter how hard anyone tries.
The reason for this is simple; we all communicate in different ways. Four different ways to be exact. By understanding the styles and personality traits of others, you can effectively observe and predict patterns, thereby communicating with them in the way they would like.
Introducing iMA (short for Identify, Modify, Adapt), an exciting new universal language that’s designed to maximise connectivity by developing trust, understanding, and respect. It all starts with a personality test, or more accurately, a questionnaire. Each person is then given a colour that represents their traits and preferred methods of communication.
The question is, when it comes to the personality test — what colour are you and what exactly does it mean? This blog has all the answers.
The Concept of iMA Explained
Everyone in the world speaks one of four iMA dialects, putting them on the same wavelength as 25% of the world’s population. This means that the majority, including many of whom are important to your success, are actually on a completely different wavelength.
The use of iMA involves observing and understanding the differences in people, then connecting and communicating with them in their preferred manner. When this happens, communication, trust, understanding, and cooperation will go up, while stress and tension comes down.
The 4 Colours of iMA
iMA divides its four different dialects into colours, which are:
- High Red
- High Yellow
- High Green
- High Blue
The reason why each colour has “High” in front of them is simple. iMA recognises that everyone, in various degrees, is a mixture of all four colours — and that we’re all as individual as our own thumb print. The process is only interested in identifying your dominant colour, however, as this makes it easier to interpret and understand your personality and those of other people.
iMA Personality Test: What Colour Are You?
After taking our short personality test, you’ll be shown your colour and what it means for you. To whet your appetite a little, here is a quick insight into what each colour represents:
- iMA High Reds: Goal-orientated go-getters who are most comfortable when they’re in charge of situations and other people. They focus on a non-nonsense approach to bottom-line results, are fast-paced and task-orientated, and work quickly and impressively by themselves.
- iMA High Yellows: Outgoing, friendly, and enthusiastic idea-people who excel in getting others excited about their vision. They’re often fast-paced, energetic, and deal with people in a positive, upbeat way. High Yellows are eternal optimists who excel in influencing people and building alliances to accomplish their goals.
- iMA High Greens: Serious, analytical, persistent, systematic, and task-oriented individuals who enjoy problem-solving, perfecting processes, and working towards tangible results. They do their research, make comparisons, determine risk, and calculate margins of error before taking any action.
- iMA High Blues: Warm, supportive, and nurturing people who develop a strong network of people who are willing to be mutually-supportive and reliable. High Blues are excellent team players, courteous, friendly, persistent workers, and good with follow-through.
So, do you think you spotted yourself in the above descriptions? Are you a go-getting High Red, an enthusiastic High Yellow, a super-analytical High Green, or an amiable and people-skilled High Blue? Find out here.
What Happens Next?
Once you’ve answered the personality test/iMA questionnaire and found your own style, you can begin to recognise your core strengths, biggest limitations, and focus on what you do brilliantly. Only 25% of the world’s human population has the set of skills you do — and that’s something to be celebrated. You can feel safe in the knowledge that your personality, your communication style, and the way you see the world is completely natural. The next step is to become the best version of yourself — a self-actualised High Red, High Yellow, High Green, or High Blue.
How Colours Affect Communication
The people you can communicate most effectively with are those with the same iMA colour as you. This is due to the fact that you share all of the same attributes when it comes to communication, personality, and social styles. You’ll also have some degree of commonality with 50% of the population, while the remaining 25% will be the polar opposite.
High Reds and High Yellows have commonality, as they’re both assertive personalities who work at pace, make quick decisions, and are always thinking about what’s coming next. High Reds and High Greens, meanwhile, are similar in the fact that they think in a logical way and are led by thoughts and tasks.
People who are High Yellow have common ground with High Blues, since both sets of people are relationship-focused and think in a non-linear way. Finally, High Greens and High Blues are receptive, take their time making decisions, and concentrate heavily on the here-and-now.
High Reds and High Blues are polar opposites, as are High Yellows and High Greens. In these cases, it’s important for people to make a considered effort to tolerate, understand, and communicate with the other. This can be quite difficult in the short-term, as everything that people who are the opposite iMA colour to you do is alien — causing frustration and friction between both parties. But remember, they will be thinking exactly the same about you.
The key element of iMA is identifying everyone’s colour or personality, and intentionally adapting your style of communication and behaviour to fit theirs. By doing so, your interactions will be smooth and fruitful — regardless of whether they’re in-person, on a video call, or via SMS and email.
Ready to Get Started?
It’s now time for you to take the iMA personality test and find out what colour you are. Once you’ve learned your own traits, you can begin to identify those of others and how you can improve your levels of communication.
The beauty of iMA is that it transcends both your personal and professional lives. From a corporate standpoint, the practice can be utilised across all areas of industry — from recruitment to hospitality and beyond. It can even assist you with ensuring the right people are in the right job, making it a powerful tool for businesses.
Want to know more about putting iMA into practice? Get in touch with me today to start your journey of discovery.