Color Me Promoted The Psychology Of Color

Color Me Promoted, Color Me a Leader,

or Color Me Going-No-Where

Quoted in

The World I Live Inby Helen Keller

“I understand how scarlet can differ from crimson because I know that the smell of an orange is not the smell of a grapefruit…through an inner law of completeness, my thoughts are not permitted to remain colorless.”

The Power of Color

in Business and Leadership

Charcoal Grey

Authority

Accountable

Dependable

Trust with legal or financial matters

Wear when signing a contract

Medium Grey

Emotions under control

Authority to guide mediation

between 2 or more people

Power to neutralize emotionally

charged situations

Light Grey

Easy to blend into the wallpaper,

cubicles, a crowd of people

Gather information without calling

attention to yourself

Facilitate change

NOT be noticed by others

Navy Blue

Trustworthy

Capable

Effective in financial matters

Traditional professional impression

Chair a meeting

Conduct interviews

Attend an annual review

Medium Blue

America‟s favorite color

Friendly

Energetic

Approachable

Makes all skin tones look healthy

Light Blue

Be seen as subtle

Puts others at ease

Relaxing to you and others

Calms others down when they are

emotionally charged

Wear when conducting an exit

interview

Black

Decision maker

Leadership

Delivering information to

subordinates with no arguments

Networking with other people in

leadership positions

“I make my own decisions.”

Burgundy

Refinement

Maturity

Experienced in your field of

expertise

Good to wear when you are new on

the job or at a new client location

Red

Excitement

Powerful and worth listening to

Easy for others to remember your

message in a program

Great for sales calls

Slightly increases heart rate and

brain activity of people observing

you, so that others remember you

and your message

WhiteClear

Clean

Crisp

Elegant

Authority of a lab coat (reminds people of doctors or scientists)

Men‟s white pressed dress shirt is considered the most formal in day-to-day business

Beige, Ecru, Camel

“You can talk to me.”

Friendly and approachable

Encourages dialogue

Great for networking at events

where you want to meet new people

Relaxes the image of a person with

a strong personality

Brown, Coffee, Earth-tones

Down to Earth

Reliable

Dependable

Gets the job done

Positive association with coffee and

chocolate

Coral, Peach, Melons

Energizing

Makes all skin tones look healthy

Good to wear when you:

have a headache

are recovering from being ill

Don‟t feel well, but still need to

show up at work or an event

Trendy Colors

Greens

New, fresh ideas

Good for when you are excited

about new, invigorating plans,

products or proposals

Fresh cut green grass

Soft apple green

Deep forest green

3 senses – taste, smell, sight

Orange

Playful, not serious

Outdoor activities – sports,

Halloween, school colors in sports

activities

Business power for „fun in the sun‟

industry

Comes and goes as a trendy

„fashion‟ color

“I am in the mood to play.”

Pink

Enthusiasm

Makes you look young, energetic

and enthusiastic

„In the Pink‟ – healthy

Bright – draws attention

Pastel – reassuring demeanor

Purple

Women relate well to this color

Creative

Innovative

Unique

Thinks „outside the box‟

Helps men who want to be more

relatable to women

Yellow

Cannot be ignored

Adds cheerful tone to any day

Sunny disposition

Wear when you want to stand out in

a crowd

Don‟t wear when you are not feeling

well or have a stomach ache

Prints & Patterns

Animal PrintsFun, wild like an animal

Fashionable to other women, off-putting to

men: they don‟t wear these patterns

Draws attention

Dramatic

Exciting

Women like these patterns because they

do not reveal their true silhouette

Fine pattern

Understated elegance

Classic

Refined

Gracious

Neutral

Good for business

Plaid

Takes life and work seriously

Hard working, thrifty

Traditional

Cool weather

Stability

Comforting

Sporty

Pin Stripes

Powerful

Prestigious

Traditional

Dressiest suit pattern

Authority

Professional Image

Resembling ruled ledger lines

Stripes - vertical

Slenderizing

Dependable

Making a mental effort

Friendly

Approachable

Dependable

“Follow the line” laid out by others

Houndstooth

Upscale

Tasteful

Safe

Conservative (in neutral colors)

Serious business message

Best in tailored outfits

High fashion when the pattern is

large and over-sized

Herringbone Serious business message

Male-oriented

Refined

Balanced

Timeless

Understated

Traditional

High fashion when pattern is large or over-sized

Tweed

Serious business message

Classic - natural

Cool weather

Masculine

Tough, can withstand change

Dramatic Geometrics

Creative

Unique

Dynamic

Bold

Fashion savvy

Strong presence

Male-oriented

Floral

Romantic

Feminine

Casual

Happy

Warm weather

Mother Nature

Small Checks

Subtle

Quiet

Easy to get along with

Dependable

Unassuming

Approachable

Conventional

Stable

Medium Checks

Middle of the road approach to

business

Informal

Sporty

Tranquil

Engineers, architects, charts

Paisley

Subdued

Serious

Quiet

Soft curves

Flowing design

Originated in Eastern India

Small Floral

Feminine

Dainty

Soft

Delicate

Light weight

Comforting

Medium Floral

Feminine

Romantic

Fluffy

Relaxed

Flowing

Nostalgic

Large Floral

Loud

Casual

Personal time

Vacation

Whimsical

Flamboyant

Light-hearted

Contact Information

Peggy M. Parks, AICI CIP

President

The Parks Image Group, Inc.

Peggy@TheParksImageGroup.com

www.TheParksImageGroup.com

Phone: 404/266-3858

Fax: 404/364-0298

Blog: http://PeggyParks.Wordpress.com

LinkedIn : Peggy M. Parks