Guess a color. Right now? Everybody wants me to reveal how to spot a person's Color (temperament) without a test or survey. Better yet, they would love to be able to guess a personality type in just a matter of minutes. Think about it. How great would it be to assess people during a short business meeting or over that first drink at a bar!?

How good are YOU? Do you think you yourself are pretty good at guessing a person's Color the first few minutes you meet? Here is "my take" here and PLEASE let me know if you agree, disagree, or have something to add to the conversation.

The bad news is I will get laughed off the stage if I sell tickets to poor souls who actually think I am good at guessing Colors.

Sizing folks up for temperament can be a tough call.

Greens. I get Greens wrong all the time - those clever clones of Sherlock Holmes. Countless Green rationals develop diplomatic social skills and pleasant tones of voice, shrouding tough logic and demanding connectivity of concepts. However, they do give themselves away by wearing highly efficient and job-oriented clothing rather than the fashionable. It's no surprise that the corporate garb in "Greenland," e.g., at Google and utility companies, favors jeans and t-shirts. They will be the least self-conscious about geeky eyeglasses, index cards in shirt pockets, and tools attached to belts.

Blues. Blues are pretty easy to spot. Blue body language can be gentle, welcoming, and vulnerable. The clothes they choose tend to be soft, flowing, unique, and highly comfortable rather than efficient, trendy, or "expected."

Oranges. Oranges stand out like the artists and athletes they tend to be. They do care about how they look - a lot. Orange body language screams pride, energy, movement, and comfort with their own sexuality.

Golds. Obedient Golds wear the corporate uniform, whatever it is. If you ask them, they want to fit in and do so with taste and care. Gold body language is rarely flamboyant.

How good are the odds now? So much for first impressions. With the information you've just been given, you just might be right about 30-50% of the time.

Have more time for a first impression? If you actually get to have a conversation with these folks the first time you meet, other clues pop up.

Greens. Greens may freeze up with small talk and will prefer to deliver facts and carefully considered analyses. You know that they have found you interesting if they keep asking questions as you speak. Otherwise, don't waste your time feeling sorry for yourself if they clam up or find an excuse to move away from you.

Blues. Blues enjoy light conversation, including personal stuff and philosophical flights of fancy. They move easily from topic to topic and tend to listen as much as talk. Don't be surprised that they look into your eyes more than the other types - and even touch you from time to time.

Oranges and Golds. Oranges and Golds (75% of the population) tend to get queasy if abstract conversations (preferred by Greens and Blues) begin to take a lot of time. Both Orange and Golds prefer dealing with concrete ideas.

Oranges normally prefer action over conversation, but will engage if the talk is lighthearted, funny, fun, or somehow riveting, such as with sports talk. Oranges are more likely to use "colorful" language than the others.

Golds enjoy process talk, like a Grisham novel, in which they remark about the way things work, the steps of a story, the highlights of a trip, the design of a house, ... you get the idea.

Be more accurate. Go with TWO Colors. Okay, there you have it. If I could recommend anything, I'd say try to guess a person's first TWO Colors. That way, you can adjust the conversation to the strengths and values of both Colors and probably find you are being well received.

Your turn to chime in. What do you think? What is YOUR experience?

Write me a note if you want to examine this further.

Click here to get your own Color spectrum.