How a Simple Tool Healed a Divided Team (and Changed a Manager's Career)

Have you ever worked with someone who just made zero sense to you? You present a great idea, and they can only see the problems. Or you ask for a simple update, and they tell you all the ins and outs. And it is frustrating!

When workplace tension builds, it’s rarely because people are trying to be difficult. Most of the time, it’s simply a clash of different perspectives. That’s where the Click! Colours framework becomes a game-changer. It gives us a mirror to understand ourselves, and a lens to truly understand others.

Case Study: The Team That Felt "Checked Up On"

A while ago, we ran a workshop for a team of 15 who were struggling. They had a new manager who had started four months prior, and tension was growing.

During the session, through open discussion, the cause became clear:

• The Team was made up of predominantly Red Carers. They were empathetic, people-focused, and comfortable navigating emotions. They made decisions based on intuition, relationships, and gut instinct, not dense reports.

• The Manager was a Blue Analyser. They were most comfortable working with data, logic, and evidence. They felt uncomfortable making decisions based on emotion, opinions and the lack of solid details.

Because of this gap, routine interaction was being misread. When the manager asked for background details or probed into the "why" behind a decision, the team felt micromanaged, disbelieved, and distrusted. But from the manager’s perspective, they weren’t doubting them at all, they simply needed facts and structure to feel comfortable.

Once both sides saw their Click! Colours layout, the tension evaporated. The realisation that ‘they don’t mistrust us, they just need data’ transformed their team dynamic overnight. In fact, the breakthrough was so profound that the manager went on to become an accredited Click! Colours Facilitator themself!

My Favourite Trick for Decoding Friction

If you want to head off these misunderstandings before they turn into conflict, try this quick Click! Colours card audit:

1. Look at YOUR card: Read the sections titled "Subconscious Habits Noticed by Others" and "Possible Negative Perceptions”. This shows you the unintended shadow you cast when you are just being yourself.

2. Look at THEIR card: Jump to the section titled "Uncomfortable”. Recognise the mismatch and look for opportunities to adjust.

Where those two sections overlap is where your clashes will happen.

For instance, as a Safekeeper, my natural impulse is to lead with structure and detail. But if I’m dealing with a Playmaker, a glance at their card reminds me that heavy detail makes them uncomfortable.

So, I adapt. I cut out the lengthy detail, lead with the big picture, and highlight only what’s immediately actionable. And when I receive an email from a Playmaker that feels frustratingly vague to me, I pause, check their profile, and remember where they’re coming from before replying.

It isn't changing who you are, it’s translating your message so the other person can actually hear it.