How to Nurture a True Colors Staff

Last week I briefly detailed a process to recruit your next diverse yearbook staff using the True Colors personality technique. This process allows you to categorize potential and existing yearbookers into four color groups that describe how each one works, how they process information, their wants and needs and overall personality traits. A good mix of all four True Color students is sure to make for an amazing, tight-knit and hardworking yearbook staff. Once you’ve gotten that far, it’s important to know how to teach and nurture each type of student.

BLUE STUDENTS need acceptance, caring and support. They enjoy group interaction and cooperation over competition. Blue students need recognition and are extremely sensitive to rejection. They focus more on people than on the abstract, and therefore always learn best through face-to-face interactions. They tend to express themselves creatively and don’t fare well with structured routines. Overall, these students aim to please (and not disappoint!) favored teachers.

GOLD STUDENTS value responsibility, dependability and obedience. They typically prefer a structured classroom, so it’s no surprise they enjoy and even need organization, a schedule and the discipline of authority. They perform well with workbooks, and are firm believers that work comes before play. They highly respect and expect a teacher who “Rules and Teaches,” while the students “Follow and Learn.” It is their goal to work to achieve the established “best” standard.

GREEN STUDENTS are interested in principles and logic, and enjoy developing their own ideas. These students often understand sophisticated concepts quickly and become frustrated when others in the class don’t. They become impatient with drill and routine, and finds technology appealing. They love to be constantly challenged, and dislike the dullness of daily routines. They’re always raising standards for themselves and others.

ORANGE STUDENTS are often entertainers, free spirits and resourceful. They may have a short attention span, but deal well with immediacy and spontaneity. Their needs include physical involvement and activity, as well as visual verbal stimulation. They learn best when there is a hands-on element to the lesson, and in some cases, may not be good team players. They find “regular” classroom settings and daily routines boring.

You can probably categorize yourself and a few existing staffers immediately after reading these details. We’re all different and we all live and thrive in a different ways. An outstanding yearbook staff is no different. Provide the right environment and nurture your incoming staff according to their true colors, and you’ll have a dedicated, bright and excited group.