There is a solution to information overload and it comes in many colors. When climbing your mountain of projects, do you find yourself losing your grip? Answers to effectively communicating in the workplace or classroom won't be found in black & white. It's time to say it with color. By incorporating color into your approach you can reap the rewards —organization, retention and attention.

The speed of business today increases seemingly exponentially with each passing year. Business doesn't slow down so you can grab the roadmap to your desk or stop to ask for directions. Just imagine the time you spend each day searching for that important "nugget" of information you need to make a timely decision.

THE ANSWER:
Try color coding. Color coding offers instant visual recognition of valuable information and a cognitive map for managing the twists and turns of your day. Color coding is particularly important for professionals who review sizeable documents, such as contracts, insurance policies or even bigger "monsters." Begin your coding process by putting papers into categories such as sales reports, budgets, invoices, meeting notes, etc. Choose a marker or highlighter for each category. Pick a color to signify follow-up status — for example, pink means an action item, yellow means case closed and green means a key element that makes the deal. A good color-coding system can go a long way to giving you a lift in organization and job performance. Color coding is also helpful in prioritizing key follow-up issues and action items. Next time your supervisor asks you to attend an important management meeting in his or her absence, color code your notes. Critical information will be easily recognized when briefing the boss.

If you've got something to say, "say it with color."

There is also evidence that color improves an individual's ability to retain information, both words and pictures. According to a January 1995 study, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology (Volume 122, Page 5), color influences the way we read and process information. The study suggests that color is a major factor in information retention, so making your communications memorable means using color.

THE ANSWER:
Whether presenting a quarterly sales report, scanning a training document or highlighting a study guide, color flags information for retention. For example, when training a new employee, try using color to highlight important job processes. That new employee will thank you as they learn the "ropes" more quickly.

Color also says a lot about what you're presenting. Believe it — standing in front of an audience with a lifeless black & white presentation or just a black marker on a flip chart, you will undoubtedly find your audience nodding off.

THE ANSWER:
Splash some color in your presentations by adding visuals or by simply using more color variations to make presentations more appealing for everyone — easier to present and easier to retain. But beware, too many colors can be distracting. So choose your colors wisely and make a memorable impression. For example, try using color in a presentation opening or the salutation of a letter to grab the attention of the audience.

According to a survey conducted by Expo^® dry-erase products in March 2006, the top two reasons teachers use color in the classroom is to grab students' attention and to outline or emphasize important facts. The study also showed that color makes students more enthusiastic about learning. More than 70 percent of students surveyed said they would enjoy being asked to come to the board more if they could use their favorite color to write with.

THE ANSWER:
Try offering choices. Whether in the classroom or the conference room, offer a variety of colors for dry-erase boards or flip charts. You can also be kinder with color. When editing a document or presentation, try being constructive with color. Numerous studies note that the color red communicates a threat and signals "wrong" and "incorrect." The color you use shouldn't cause unnecessary frustration. Try to use different color pens or markers, such as purple, green or orange, when correcting documents. Be kinder and more constructive.

 

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