“I edited your slides …”

July 9th, 2025

Some people attend a talk to listen. Others attend to… optimize.

During a seminar on personality clashes, I was explaining how blue types often feel overwhelmed by rapid changes, especially when presented without structure. I even showed a slide — a simple, calm, logical overview of “Why structure matters.”

Halfway through my explanation, a man in the third row raised his hand. Red, obviously. He stood up, laptop in hand, turned his screen toward the audience, and said:

“I made a better version of your slide. Here’s how I would’ve done it.”

He was dead serious.

I thanked him. The blues in the room gasped. The yellows laughed. The greens disappeared into their chairs.

That’s red energy. Direct. Bold. Productive… ish.

They don’t mean to take over. They just hate inefficiency. And they love being right.

Quick tip

If you’re red – check your timing. Contribution – great. Hijacking the meeting not o great.

If you’re not red – don’t assume it’s arrogance. Sometimes it’s just impatience with how slow the rest of us seem.

A colourful moment

After that talk, a green participant came up to me and said:
“I thought about raising my hand too.”
I said, “Really? To say what?”
He said:
“I don’t know. But I didn’t want the red guy to feel alone.”

Very green.
Very sweet.
Very quietly heroic.

See you next Wednesday.
//Thomas

Explore the newsletter archive

The red profile

The dominant

Read more about Red

The yellow profile

The influential

Read more about Yellow

The green profile

The stable one

Read more about Green

The blue profile

The compliant

Read more about Blue
Newsletter

The Surrounded by Idiots Brief

Every Wednesday, the latest issue is sent to you. Each message includes an aha-moment and possibly an oh no-moment about human interaction, and one example of behaviour for you to reflect upon.

No spam. No fluff. Just the highest quality input about how to better get along with everyone.