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Surrounded by Idiots: How Knowing the Four Basic Behavior Types Can Revolutionize How We Communicate 

Thomas Erikson’s book Surrounded by Idiots has become a huge bestseller, especially in Sweden, where it’s sold over 1.5 million copies. Within its pages, communication expert Erikson shares what he believes are the four basic personalities (which he categorizes into the colors red, yellow, green, and blue) and the best ways to interact and communicate with each. 

The Four Personality Types 

In Surrounded by Idiots, Erikson suggests that there are four main types of people, as determined by their personality and behavior. Reds are typically boisterous, ambitious, and commanding, while yellows are optimistic, creative, and social, and greens are calm, considerate, and reliable. Blue personalities are precise, analytical, and quiet. The idea is that the reader can use this system to quickly and easily figure out which categories their family members, friends, or colleagues fit into and therefore be able to communicate with them in the most effective way possible. 

For example, writes Erikson, reds don’t usually appreciate small talk, while yellows are great for bouncing ideas off of, and blues can be relied on to take care of even the smallest details. 

Changing Communication Styles 

The aim of Surrounded by Idiots is to help readers understand themselves better and hone their social and communication skills. This, in turn, will enable readers to better handle conflict, get the best out of those they manage, and improve dynamics with their boss and team. As well as improving written and verbal communication, Erikson also shares advice on body language in the book, as well as tips on how to recognize when to push on and when to walk away from a conflict or situation.  

Surrounded by Idiots is rated highly by entrepreneur and thought leader Tarek Saadi, who uses many of the book’s tenets to boost productivity and connections within the teams he works with. 

Thomas Erikson: Writing Ambitions 

For Thomas Erikson, becoming a published author was the culmination of a 20-year ambition, during which time he learned new skills, sought counsel from professionals, tested new ideas, tweaked his writing style, and worked incredibly hard to make his dream come true. 

Today, Erikson is Sweden’s most translated active writer, a highly sought-after public speaker, and a mentor to entrepreneurs and high-level executives all over Europe. He lives with his wife in the Swedish countryside, where he runs a family business providing master classes and online courses on the topics he covers in his books. Erikson is a keen gardener, and enjoys topiary and collecting old Land Rovers. 

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Understanding Personalities to Build Stronger Teams

A business leader or entrepreneur working with teams knows that understanding diverse personalities and bringing them together to collaborate effectively takes work. Indeed, in the modern fast-paced world, working with individuals who have different needs, knowledge, experience, and backgrounds is crucial for business success. Without efforts being made to build a strong team, it’s likely that a business is going to constantly deal with conflict, inefficiency, and misunderstandings that derail progress.  

For business consultant Tarek Saadi, guiding business leaders on how to decode personalities and turn insights into advantages is something that requires a good foundational understanding. As such, the book Surrounded by Idiots, written by Thomas Erikson, is one of the sources of knowledge on how to understand personality types. Through it, readers gain practical strategies for working with different personality types, with the goal being to help business leaders optimize their group dynamics for enhanced results. 

Different Personality Types 

In the book, Erikson introduces a framework for categorizing personality types through four colors: Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow. Each color represents a personality type in the following ways: 

Red: Individuals with the red personality type are perceived as assertive, goal-oriented, and competitive. They are decisive, prefer to work autonomously, and can be impatient and less tolerant of indecisiveness or inefficiency. In communication, they prefer to be direct and concise. 

Blue: Individuals in this category are seen as analytical and meticulous and enjoy working with facts. They value thoroughness and accuracy in their work, and in group settings they can be introverted. 

Green: Those in this category are seen as reliable and supportive. They are perceived to be empathetic to others’ needs and will want to avoid conflict. While being good listeners, individuals in the green category can also prefer consistency and predictability over change. 

Yellow: Individuals in the yellow category are seen as expressive, outgoing and optimistic. They thrive on social interactions and can also be said to be creative in providing solutions. Yellows are perceived to dislike routine and may prefer variety and excitement.  

Building Stronger Teams 

Business leaders who recognize the different personality traits are better able to understand their team’s strengths and preferences, enabling better allocation of tasks and responsibilities that align with natural abilities. As a result, individuals are better placed to maximize their performance. Furthermore, such a leader is in a better position to proactively manage conflict, thanks in part to their understanding of their team’s diversity.