Finding your way in a forest of colors

Color models are widely used in organizations to provide insight into each other's personality, improve teams and change organizations. There are many color models on individual level, like Myers-Briggs, Insights Discovery, Management Drives, Life Orientations or DISC. Well know color models for team development, like the six Thinking Hats from De Bono or the nine team roles of Belbin. On organizational level there are color model for organizational diagnoses and change processes. This article provides an overview of those color models. The article starts with the origin of color thinking. The use of colors is described in personal development, team development and organizational development. Then the attraction and the dangers of working with colors are discussed. This article concludes with some conclusions on how to play with colors in organizations.