Episode Seven: How to Manage Up with Colour
September 12, 2025
Have you ever found yourself thinking, ‘Why does my manager always want more data?’ or ‘Why do they expect an answer right now?’ or perhaps ‘Why don’t they read and respond to my emails?’. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. But the good news is that Insights Discovery isn’t just for understanding yourself, it’s also the secret weapon for working better with your boss.
Welcome to part seven in our Insights Discovery Series where we look at how to use Insights Discovery to build self-awareness; increase our understanding of others and develop the skills to adapt our interactions for greater success. In this episode, we look at how Insights Discovery can help us tackle the enduring question of how to manage upwards.
We all have our preferred ways of working. Those nuances, preferences and behaviours that make you, you. Well, so do our managers and leaders. And if you can decode their colour profile, you can tailor your interactions in a way that increases your chances of getting the outcomes you want, while reducing stress levels along the way! If that sounds good, read on to discover three simple steps to success.
Step One: Identify the Colour Energies in Play
Here is a quick refresher of the four Insights Discovery colour energies and their interactions style:
🔴 Fiery Red – Direct, decisive and fast-paced.
🟡 Sunshine Yellow – Enthusiastic, social and visionary.
🟢 Earth Green – Supportive, calm and values-driven.
🔵 Cool Blue – Logical, precise and data-oriented.
While everyone has elements of all four colour energies, we tend to favour one or two colours over the others when it comes to our natural interaction style. So as a first step, identify two colour energies from the list above that best match the preferred interaction style of your manager.
Step Two: Study the Formula
Now let’s break down how to ‘manage up’ with each type of manager.
Managing a Fiery Red Manager
“Get to the point and make it fast.”
What they value:
Results, speed, confidence, initiative.
How to adapt:
Be concise and focused, no rambling. Come with solutions, not problems. Respect their time. Get in, get out, get on.
What to avoid:
Over-explaining or being indecisive. Appearing hesitant or lacking urgency.
Quick tip:
Mirror their pace. Think bullet points, not paragraphs.
Managing a Sunshine Yellow Manager
“Bring energy and sell your idea!”
What they value:
Enthusiasm, connection, big-picture thinking.
How to adapt:
Show excitement and optimism. Be expressive. Engage in casual conversation. Tie your ideas to vision and potential impact.
What to avoid:
Being overly serious or too detail-heavy. Rushing into tasks without connecting first.
Quick tip:
Build the relationship, then pitch the idea.
Managing an Earth Green Manager
“Reflect team spirit, empathy and equity.”
What they value:
Trust, reliability, fairness, honesty.
How to adapt:
Be respectful and calm in your tone. Focus on the people, not just the process. Give them time to process, don’t rush. Listen!
What to avoid:
Sudden changes, hard sells and last minute surprises. Ignoring team wellbeing or emotions. Interrupting or talking over them.
Quick tip:
Allow time for pleasantries.
Managing a Cool Blue Manager
“Reflect team spirit, empathy and equity.”
What they value:
Accuracy, logic, preparation, order.
How to adapt:
Come prepared, do your homework. Present clear ideas and structured thinking. Give them time to review and reflect. Be clear on deadlines and expectations.
What to avoid:
Being too vague or over emotional. Putting them on the spot or forcing a quick decision. Poor quality or accuracy.
Quick tip:
Think spreadsheet first, story second.
Step Three: Put Your Approach into Action
Revisit the dominant colour energies you identified for your manager. Select two or three corresponding interaction techniques from the suggestions above and put them into practise over the coming weeks. Take some time to reflect on your results and keep honing your approach. Consider which ones work the best and why? ‘Which ones didn’t and why? Revisit the lists now and again and experiment with different approaches. Similarly, observe successful techniques adopted by others and borrow from them. Applied regularly, you’ll quickly identify the blend that works best and then you can reap the benefits.
Final Thoughts: Managing Up, Colourfully
Managing up is about emotional intelligence in action. When you understand what makes your manager tick, you can flex your interaction style, not to manipulate, but to collaborate. So next time you’re preparing for a meeting or pitching a new idea, take a moment to ask: “What colour am I managing up to today?”. The answer might just change your whole approach – and your results!
To learn more, visit our dedicated Insights Discovery web page.
See you next time.
