Understanding yourself and your colleagues is key to effective teamwork. That’s why many UNLV employees are turning to the Real Colors workshop, a program designed to enhance personal insight and strengthen workplace interactions.
“I’ve found Real Colors to be an insightful tool for enhancing self-awareness,” says Suzanne Guevarra, senior HR business partner for University Police Services at UNLV. “I plan to integrate it into team-building sessions and leadership development programs to help individuals better understand themselves and others!”
Through a series of interactive exercises, the workshop encourages participants to explain their personality traits, helping build stronger connections and more effective collaboration.
“The workshop was an eye-opening and engaging experience with fun and interactive exercises,” says Philip Dow, purchasing and contracts analyst at UNLV. “I was able to connect with colleagues and understand a little more about my own personality and communication style. This workshop is for anyone ready to do a little self-reflection, gain practical insight to improve communications, and understand how to relate to the people around them.”
With 105 participants from departments across UNLV in 2024, Real Colors continues to grow, offering employees a valuable opportunity to deepen their self-awareness, strengthen communication, and build more cohesive teams.
What is Real Colors?
Personality assessments have long been used to decode human behavior, but many traditional models are complex and difficult to apply. Real Colors simplifies these theories into four distinct personality types — Orange, Green, Blue, and Gold — making it easy to recognize different work styles and improve communication.
Real Colors simplifies David Keirsey’s temperament theory into a user-friendly tool for everyday interactions. Widely adopted across industries, research shows that its results align with more complex models.
- Orange: immediate, generous, witty, spontaneous, optimistic, eager, and adaptable
- Green: complex, curious, independent, logical, and analytical
- Blue: sincere, insightful, caring, accepting, patient, giving, and true
- Gold: practical, provider, parental, stable, punctual, positive, and reliable
Real Colors at UNLV
Since its launch at UNLV in 2020, various departments have embraced Real Colors. Last year, that included Parking & Transportation Services, Office of Equal Employment and Title IX, Risk Management & Safety, Facilities Management, Purchasing and Contracts, Human Resources, UNLV Health, Libraries, Health Pediatrics Clinic, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine, Foundation, and Athletics.
A 2024 post-workshop survey revealed that blue and gold were the most common primary colors among participants at UNLV. This indicates a strong presence of empathetic, patient, and organized individuals in the workplace.
“Real Colors helps employees recognize and appreciate different work styles, strengthening team dynamics across campus. By understanding how colleagues communicate and make decisions, participants can foster more inclusive, productive, and collaborative workplaces,” says Ericka Smith, vice president and chief people officer.
The Real Colors Experience
Participants begin the workshop with a self-assessment and quiz, followed by engaging activities that highlight how different personality types interact. These exercises encourage discussion, helping employees develop empathy and a deeper understanding of their colleagues’ work styles. By the end of the session, participants leave with practical communication tools that are easy to recall and apply in daily interactions.
Karlie Passey, a UNLV certified Real Colors facilitator, has seen firsthand how the workshop can transform workplace interactions.
“I’ve been a Real Colors facilitator for several years, and I’m always amazed at how quickly employees start applying the tools they’ve learned.”
She continues, “Having a shared language to better understand our colleagues really makes tough conversations easier. When we grasp both our own temperaments and those of the people we work with, it can unlock new ways of communicating and collaborating, often leading to stronger camaraderie and greater openness.”
How to Participate
UNLV employees can now schedule Real Colors workshops through the following streamlined process:
- Complete the Real Colors Intake Form: Fill out the Real Colors Intake form with your department’s details.
- Click the Google Calendar Appointment Link: Use the link provided to select a Real Colors registration date.
- Select a Date and Time: Choose any available date and time from the Google Calendar appointment link that fits your schedule.
- Receive Confirmation: Brenda Thompson-El will follow up with you to confirm your registration and provide any additional information needed.
Workshops require at least 10 participants and offer a hands-on, interactive approach to understanding different personality styles.
To schedule a session or learn more, visit the Real Colors webpage.
