Surrounded by Idiots: Understand Personality Types, Improve Communication, and Build Better Relationships

Based on the work of Thomas Erikson

Introduction: Why People Aren’t Actually Idiots

We’ve all had moments where we throw our hands up and say, “Why are people so difficult?” Maybe it’s a boss who micromanages everything, a friend who never gets to the point, or a family member who avoids confrontation like the plague.

Here’s a bold truth: most people aren’t actually idiots. They’re just different from you.

Thomas Erikson’s best-selling book, Surrounded by Idiots, teaches that miscommunication and conflict usually stem from personality differences — not bad intentions or low intelligence. The book introduces a powerful tool for understanding how people think, act, and communicate using a simple color-coded model based on the DISC behavioral theory.

If you’ve ever struggled to get through to someone, felt misunderstood, or wished people would just act more like you, this guide is for you.

About the Book and the Author

Thomas Erikson is a Swedish behavioral expert, lecturer, and author who has worked with business leaders, teams, and individuals across Europe. Frustrated with constant communication breakdowns, he found the DISC model to be a powerful way to make human behavior more understandable.

In Surrounded by Idiots, Erikson presents this model in a humorous, engaging way, helping readers see themselves and others more clearly — not as “idiots,” but as uniquely wired individuals with different communication styles, motivations, and fears.

The Four Personality Colors Explained

The core of the book revolves around four main personality types, each represented by a color:

🔴 RED – The Dominant Type

Key Traits: Bold, driven, direct, competitive, results-focused

• Reds are natural leaders who take charge and want things done — now.

• They thrive on challenges, hate small talk, and don’t shy away from conflict.

• They value results over emotions and prefer to be in control.

  
  

Strengths: Decisive, goal-oriented, efficientChallenges: Can be aggressive, impatient, and insensitive

Red in a Sentence: “Let’s cut the nonsense and get this done.”

🟡 YELLOW – The Influencer

Key Traits: Enthusiastic, social, creative, spontaneous, persuasive

• Yellows love being around people and making others laugh or feel inspired.

• They talk a lot, jump between ideas, and bring energy to any room.

• They value fun, variety, and recognition.

  
  

Strengths: Charismatic, imaginative, optimisticChallenges: Easily distracted, impulsive, struggles with follow-through

Yellow in a Sentence: “Let’s make this exciting — I’ve got so many ideas!”

🟢 GREEN – The Stable Supporter

Key Traits: Calm, kind, loyal, patient, good listener

• Greens dislike conflict and prefer a peaceful, steady environment.

• They don’t like being rushed, and they resist change.

• They value security, harmony, and relationships.

  
  

Strengths: Supportive, dependable, empatheticChallenges: Avoids confrontation, resists change, passive

Green in a Sentence: “Let’s take it slow and make sure everyone’s okay.”

🔵 BLUE – The Analyst

Key Traits: Logical, precise, critical thinker, perfectionist

• Blues love facts, details, and order.

• They hate sloppiness, surprises, and emotional arguments.

• They value accuracy, quality, and clear standards.

  
  

Strengths: Analytical, detail-oriented, disciplinedChallenges: Overcritical, risk-averse, emotionally distant

Blue in a Sentence: “Let’s analyze this thoroughly before making a decision.”

How These Colors Communicate — And Clash

Most misunderstandings happen because each color speaks a different “language.”What sounds clear to one person might feel offensive, confusing, or boring to another.

Here’s how the colors interact — and often frustrate each other:

• 🔴 Red vs. Green: Reds want action. Greens need time. Reds see Greens as slow. Greens see Reds as pushy.

• 🟡 Yellow vs. Blue: Yellows want fun. Blues want facts. Yellows see Blues as cold. Blues see Yellows as chaotic.

• 🔵 Blue vs. Red: Blues want details. Reds want speed. Blues see Reds as reckless. Reds see Blues as overthinkers.

• 🟢 Green vs. Yellow: Greens want harmony. Yellows want excitement. Greens see Yellows as overwhelming. Yellows see Greens as boring.

  
  

Understanding these differences helps you adjust your communication style so others can hear you — not just tolerate you.

How to Work with Each Personality Type

🔴 Working with Reds:

• Be brief, clear, and direct.

• Focus on results, not feelings.

• Show confidence and decisiveness.

Don’t: Waste time, get emotional, or be vague.

🟡 Working with Yellows:

• Be friendly and upbeat.

• Acknowledge their ideas.

• Let them talk and brainstorm freely.

Don’t: Shut them down, micromanage, or be overly serious.

🟢 Working with Greens:

• Be patient and kind.

• Show appreciation for their support.

• Give them time to adjust to changes.

Don’t: Rush, pressure, or ignore their input.

🔵 Working with Blues:

• Be organized, logical, and detailed.

• Respect their need for structure.

• Give them time to think before acting.

Don’t: Be sloppy, emotional, or interrupt their process.

What Happens Under Stress?

Each color reacts differently when under pressure:

• 🔴 Red becomes aggressive and controlling.

• 🟡 Yellow becomes scattered and dramatic.

• 🟢 Green becomes passive and avoids everything.

• 🔵 Blue becomes overly critical and withdrawn.

Knowing this can help you stay calm and give others space when emotions rise.

Real-Life Applications

💼 In the Workplace:

• Build better teams by balancing colors

• Adjust your leadership style based on personality types

• Reduce conflict and increase productivity

  
  

❤️ In Relationships:

• Understand your partner’s communication needs

• Reduce arguments caused by mismatched styles

• Build deeper emotional connection

  
  

👪 In Family and Parenting:

• Communicate better with your kids and parents

• See beyond behavior to understand motivation

• Reduce family stress by honoring personality needs

  
  

Don’t Misuse the Model

❌ Common Mistakes:

• Labeling people permanently (“He’s just a Yellow”)

• Thinking one color is better (e.g., “Reds are real leaders”)

• Using it as an excuse (“I’m Blue so I don’t do emotions”)

  
  

The truth?You’re likely a mix of two or more colors, and personality can shift over time or in different environments.

Benefits of Understanding Personality Colors

✅ You become more empathetic

✅ You communicate clearly without forcing your style on others

✅ You reduce conflict and frustration

✅ You become a better leader, parent, friend, or partner

Ultimately, you develop emotional intelligence — the ability to connect, understand, and adapt to people in any setting.

Final Thoughts: They’re Not Idiots — They’re Just Not You

When you learn to see the world through another person’s color lens, everything changes.Instead of frustration, you find curiosity. Instead of blame, you seek understanding.

Thomas Erikson’s Surrounded by Idiots doesn’t just teach you how to label others — it teaches you how to appreciate them, work with them, and grow as a result.

You don’t need to change who you are — just learn how to connect with who others are.

🔍 Bonus: Quick Quiz — What Color Are You?

Instructions: Choose the group of statements (A, B, C, or D) that sounds most like you most of the time.

Group A (Red – The Dominant)

• I like to take charge and get things done

• I prefer action over discussion

• I’m impatient with slow processes

• I hate wasting time

  
  

Group B (Yellow – The Influencer)

• I love being around people

• I get excited about new ideas

• I talk a lot and sometimes interrupt

• I’m motivated by fun and excitement

  
  

Group C (Green – The Stable)

• I’m a calm and steady person

• I value close, loyal relationships

• I avoid conflict when possible

• I’m slow to change but dependable

  
  

Group D (Blue – The Analyst)

• I like to plan things carefully

• I pay attention to details

• I get annoyed when others are messy or disorganized

• I need time to think before I decide

  
  

✅ Results:

• Mostly A: You’re likely Red

• Mostly B: You’re likely Yellow

• Mostly C: You’re likely Green

• Mostly D: You’re likely Blue

📌 Most people are a mix — this quiz just shows your dominant style.

🧭 What to Do Next

Now that you know your color (and maybe someone else’s), here’s how to grow:

• Read the full book (Surrounded by Idiots) to go deeper

• Try observing people around you and identifying their color

• Practice adjusting your communication style for one week — watch what happens

• Don’t try to fix people — try to understand them

  
  

🙌 Final Encouragement

Whether you’re Red, Yellow, Green, or Blue, remember this: you are wired for connection.

With the right tools and a little awareness, you can build stronger relationships, have better conversations, and finally stop feeling like you're "surrounded by idiots."

Because you’re not.

You’re surrounded by people — just like you — doing the best they can in the only way they know how.

And now?You know how to meet them where they are.