The time in which we currently live has put all of humanity to the test. Many things we are used to are no longer the same. For example, working from home used to be a rarity. Today, it has become our new, necessary reality.

And suddenly, here we are at home, working with colleagues who are also in their homes. We all create a new, virtual space together. This is an opportunity for all of us to learn something new and to get to know our colleagues and team members even better.

In this whole process, communication is the key.

In the previous blog, we wrote about stress, how to recognize it and influence it.

Good and quality communication can certainly reduce stress in the team.

How are we then supposed to achieve good communication within the team?

First of all, by understanding their communication patterns, and then the patterns of their associates. Modern neuroscience gives us new and fresh perspectives on the ways we communicate with each other. Dr. Helen Fisher, a neuroscientist and TED speaker, describes 4 systems in the brain, symbolically represented by colors, through NeuroColor identities. Each and every one of us has got all 4 systems, it’s just that some are dominant over the others. The combination of all 4 systems in the brain gives us a unique NeuroID, something like a fingerprint.

Why does someone react completely differently to the same question?

How often do we offend someone by accident, because that statement would not offend us personally?

In the following, we will only briefly go through the key features that we associate with each of the colors and systems in the brain in order to better understand why we communicate in a certain way.

Serotonin, a hormone in the brain, is represented with the color blue. It’s because of him that we care about processes and stability, and people who are dominant in this color are very measured and structured. They highly value a thorough and structured presentation. It is difficult for them to follow the “jumping” from topic to topic. Check the information twice before presenting it to them.

Dopamine, another hormone in the brain, is responsible for the fact that we see a chance in everything and are not afraid of change. This system in the brain is represented with the color yellow. Avoid interrupting such people before they have presented their idea. They don’t like broad explanations and too much detail. They need options and explanations of the benefits they bring.

The system in the brain in which the hormone testosterone predominates is represented with the color red. These people are focused on results and the system. They expect you to get to the point right away without unnecessary circumcision. Stay focused on the facts that result in action. Be prepared for more detailed explanations if they are interested.

The fourth hormone, estrogen, is dominant in the brain system represented with the color green. People who are dominant in this color need some time to relate to the topic, so you should ask follow-up questions and make sure you really understand their potential concerns. The trust and involvement of all team members are very important to them.

For the very end, you’ve probably heard that small improvements in communication can have a big impact on results. That is why we need to “paint” our virtual workspace with appropriate colors and in that way facilitate and improve communication between teams.