The 4 Founder Super Powers: Understanding Your Strengths and Weaknesses

What is your superpower? What is your kryptonite?

As a startup founder, I've learned that understanding yourself is just as crucial as understanding your market.

Recently, I had an enlightening conversation with Michelle Denogean, author of "Grow Up: Take Your Startup to the Next Level," about the four founder superpowers.

Today we are going to review these four types of founders so you can learn which one you are. This will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses.

It is also important to understand that not everyone is exclusively just one of these. Most people probably have a primary one but might see themselves to a lesser extent in other ones.

The Four Superpowers

Michelle's research, based on the Myers-Briggs personality test, identifies four distinct superpowers that founders typically possess:

1. The Innovator

2. The Builder

3. The Connector

4. The Persuader

Let's dive into each of these superpowers and what they mean for you as a founder.

To figure out which one you are, you can take Michelle’s Superpower quiz on her website for free!

You can listen to the the entire podcast interview on your favorite podcast app or on YouTube.

1. The Innovator

Innovators are the creative problem-solvers of the startup world. They excel at understanding deep-rooted issues and coming up with novel solutions.

Their exceptional problem-solving skills, high creativity, and ability to think outside the box make them invaluable in the early stages of a startup. Innovators are comfortable with risk and uncertainty, often seeing possibilities that others might miss. They have strong analytical skills that they apply to complex problems, breaking them down and reassembling them in innovative ways.

However, Innovators aren't without their weaknesses. They may struggle with implementing processes and structure, preferring the excitement of ideation over the mundane aspects of execution.

Their constant stream of new ideas can lead to distraction, making it challenging to focus on a single project to completion. In their pursuit of the big picture, Innovators might overlook important details. They can also grow impatient with team members who don't grasp their vision as quickly as they'd like.

Michelle describes Innovators as those who are "great at understanding deeply the problems that need to be solved, right? And coming up with solutions for whoever their audience is, whoever their customer set is that they're targeting."

I feel seen. This describes me to a T!

2. The Builder

Builders are the architects of startup growth. They are highly analytical and logical, excelling at creating and executing plans.

Their data-driven decision-making approach ensures that the company's actions are grounded in solid evidence rather than mere hunches. Builders have a strong focus on scalability and growth, always looking for ways to improve operational efficiency. They're particularly skilled at translating innovative ideas into actionable, sustainable business models.

On the flip side, Builders can be risk-averse, potentially stifling innovation in favor of proven methods. They might struggle with abstract or theoretical concepts, preferring concrete data and tangible results. Their strong focus on data can sometimes lead them to overlook the value of intuition or creativity in decision-making. Additionally, Builders may have difficulty adapting to rapid changes, preferring stability and predictability.

As Michelle puts it, Builders are "figuring out what the plan needs to be and being very data-driven and action-oriented."

3. The Connector

Connectors are the relationship maestros of the startup ecosystem. They possess exceptional interpersonal skills and have an innate ability to build and maintain strong relationships.

Their excellent networking skills often lead to crucial partnerships and opportunities for the company. Connectors have a strong intuition about people and situations, allowing them to navigate complex social dynamics with ease. They're particularly skilled at managing the company's reputation, acting as the face of the organization in many situations.

However, Connectors may struggle with letting go of control, often wanting to be involved in all aspects of relationship management. They can have difficulty with tasks that require solitary focus, thriving more in interactive environments. There's a risk that Connectors might prioritize relationships over hard data or efficiency, potentially leading to decisions that feel good but aren't necessarily best for the business. They can also struggle with making tough decisions that might upset others, valuing harmony sometimes at the expense of necessary change.

Michelle describes Connectors as "the ones who will be out in the industry talking to everybody. They're the ones that know where you went on vacation and how many kids you have."

I’ve known several startup founders that are this type that struggle heavily with giving up control.

4. The Persuader

Persuaders are the deal-closers of the startup world. They have excellent communication and negotiation skills, with an uncanny ability to convince others and close deals.

Their strong focus on results and achieving goals drives the company forward, especially in sales and partnerships. Persuaders are confident and charismatic, often becoming the driving force behind a company's growth. They're skilled at understanding and addressing customer needs, translating product features into tangible benefits.

On the downside, Persuaders may struggle with consistency in their approach or messaging, adapting perhaps too readily to each new situation. They can be too focused on short-term wins at the expense of long-term strategy, potentially sacrificing sustainable growth for quick gains. In their eagerness to close a deal, they might overlook important details that could cause issues down the line. If not careful, Persuaders can be perceived as pushy or manipulative, potentially damaging relationships if they prioritize the win over the relationship.

Michelle describes Persuaders as "confident, convincing, and great at building relationships to foster steady growth in the company."

Identifying Your Superpower

Remember, Michelle offers a free quiz on her website (michelledenogean.com) to help identify your superpower, there are also some key indicators you can look for:

1. Reflect on Your Natural Tendencies: Think about what energizes you most in your work. Do you get excited about solving complex problems (Innovator), creating efficient systems (Builder), building relationships (Connector), or closing deals (Persuader)?

2. Consider Your Approach to Challenges: When faced with a problem, do you immediately start brainstorming creative solutions (Innovator), look for data to analyze (Builder), reach out to your network for insights (Connector), or focus on how to overcome objections (Persuader)?

3. Evaluate Your Communication Style: Are you most comfortable explaining complex ideas (Innovator), presenting data and plans (Builder), engaging in casual conversation (Connector), or persuading others to take action (Persuader)?

4. Assess Your Role in Team Dynamics: In group settings, do you often come up with new ideas (Innovator), organize and delegate tasks (Builder), facilitate discussions and mediate conflicts (Connector), or rally the team towards a goal (Persuader)?

5. Identify Your Blind Spots: Sometimes, it's easier to recognize what doesn't come naturally to you. Do you struggle with implementing processes (Innovator), taking risks (Builder), working alone (Connector), or maintaining consistency (Persuader)?

Remember, as Michelle pointed out in our conversation, "Most people have a primary superpower, but you also bridge others." You may find that you strongly identify with one superpower but also see aspects of others in yourself. This is completely normal and can actually be a strength, allowing you to adapt to different situations.

Understanding Your Superpower Mix

During our chat, I realized that while I initially tested as a Builder, I also strongly relate to the Innovator traits. Michelle explained that this is quite common: "You didn't see the score at the end. You know, everybody has, I think, a lot of times when you put these types of studies out, it's like, you're one thing, you're primary. And it is true. Most people have a primary superpower, but you also bridge others."

This blend of superpowers shapes how we approach problems and lead our teams. For instance, my Builder tendencies help me create structured plans and analyze data, while my Innovator side allows me to think creatively about solutions and take calculated risks.

Understanding your unique mix of superpowers can help you leverage your strengths more effectively and be more aware of your potential blind spots. It can also help you appreciate the different perspectives and strengths that other team members bring to the table.

Making It Actionable: Leveraging Your Superpower

Now that you understand the four superpowers, how can you use this information to improve your business and leadership style? Here are some actionable steps:

1. Identify Your Superpower: Take Michelle's quiz at michelledenogean.com to identify your primary superpower.

2. Recognize Your Blind Spots: Each superpower comes with potential weaknesses. Identify yours and be mindful of how it might impact your decision-making.

3. Build a Balanced Team: Look for team members whose superpowers complement yours. As Michelle points out, "People are the cure to startup failure."

4. Delegate Effectively: Once you understand your strengths and weaknesses, delegate tasks that align with others' superpowers. This not only improves efficiency but also empowers your team.

5. Improve Communication: Understanding different superpowers can help you communicate more effectively with team members who may think differently than you.

6. Embrace Growth: Remember, the goal isn't to change who you are, but to grow as a leader. As Michelle says, "What made you great at starting, right, is going to continue to make you great. It doesn't stop making you great at what you do. But what you do need to do is gain some awareness and get out of the way."

The Power of Superpower Diversity

One of the most important lessons I've learned is the power of having diverse superpowers on your team. As Michelle emphasizes, "In order to gain conviction, to ramp up the business with the proper data, analytics, and people, to own your reputation, and to persuade customers - those different things that you need to have in order to grow and scale successfully won't all come from you."

This diversity can lead to friction, but it's a necessary part of growth. Learning to appreciate and leverage these different perspectives can be the key to scaling your startup successfully.

Most innovators need an operation person on their team to keep them organized and grounded. That is definitely my case!

Conclusion

Understanding the four founder superpowers helped me recognize my strengths as a Builder/Innovator, but also made me more aware of my blind spots. More importantly, it's changed how I approach team building and leadership.

Remember, there's no "best" superpower. Each plays a crucial role in building and scaling a successful startup. The key is understanding your superpower, recognizing its strengths and limitations, and building a team that complements your abilities.

As Michelle wisely puts it, "People are the cure to startup failure." By understanding and leveraging the diverse superpowers within your team, you can navigate the challenges of scaling your startup and take it to the next level.

So, what's your superpower? And more importantly, how will you use this knowledge to grow as a leader and scale your startup?