The SPS Framework Overview
The SPS Framework identifies 16 distinct founder archetypes organized into 7 performance tiers. These archetypes reveal your leadership profile by measuring your capabilities across Strategy, Persuasion, and Systems — the three essential domains of business mastery.
- Strategy — the ability to perceive clearly, position intelligently, and chart the right path.
- Persuasion — the skill of connecting, influencing, and building trust with others.
- Systems — the discipline of creating structure, process, and feedback loops that ensure consistent results.
Each archetype reveals a distinct combination of capabilities across the three domains, showing current strengths and proficiency patterns.
How the SPS Framework Helps Founders
1. Identifies your leadership profile
It shows how you approach decisions, relationships, and growth.
2. Shows your capability distribution
The framework identifies your relative strengths across the three domains — Strategy, Persuasion, and Systems.
Why It Matters
Most founders have strength in one or two domains while having relative gaps in others.
Different capability combinations create distinct leadership profiles with unique patterns of decision-making, communication, and execution.
The SPS Framework identifies your specific capability profile across all three domains, providing a clear picture of your current leadership approach.
Understand the SPS Triad — The Three Forces That Shape Your Growth
Every breakthrough flows through Strategy, Persuasion, and Systems. When these three pillars align, growth accelerates. When one weakens, momentum slows. Your Diagnostic reveals which pillar is disrupting the flow.
What to Expect from This Page
- Review the Archetypes — Sixteen founder profiles below organized by tier describe different capability patterns.
- Identify Your Pattern — Each archetype represents a distinct combination of capabilities across the three domains.
- Understand Your Profile — Your archetype reveals your current capability distribution across Strategy, Persuasion, and Systems.
The 16 SPS Archetypes: A Complete Founder Framework
The following patterns define business and performance profiles organized into 7 tiers. Each archetype identifies your current capability levels across Strategy, Persuasion, and Systems domains.
TIER 1: WORLD CLASS
All three domains ≥80%. Elite mastery across Strategy, Persuasion, and Systems.
🏆 The Elite Performer
World ClassPattern:
All domains ≥ 80%
Rare excellence across all areas. Complete skillset demonstrating mastery in strategy, persuasion, and systems.
Strengths: Complete skillset, strategic vision, systematic execution
TIER 2: EXCEPTIONAL
Two domains ≥80%, one 70-79%. Near-elite performance with strength across all domains.
🎯 The Strategic Executor
ExceptionalPattern:
Strategy ≥80%, Systems ≥80%, Persuasion 70-79%
Elite strategist who builds world-class systems with strong communication and relationship capabilities.
Strengths: Elite strategic vision and market positioning, world-class execution systems and processes, strong communication and relationship skills, rare combination of vision + execution
💫 The Strategic Influencer
ExceptionalPattern:
Strategy ≥80%, Persuasion ≥80%, Systems 70-79%
Visionary leader who inspires and influences masterfully with a strong operational foundation.
Strengths: Elite strategic vision and positioning, masterful persuasion and influence, strong operational foundation, natural leader who attracts talent
⚙️ The Complete Operator
ExceptionalPattern:
Systems ≥80%, Persuasion ≥80%, Strategy 70-79%
World-class executor who builds trust and closes deals exceptionally with strong strategic capabilities.
Strengths: Elite execution systems and processes, masterful persuasion and closing, strong strategic foundation, reliable delivery combined with strong relationships
TIER 3: SPECIALIZED
Two domains ≥75%, one <70%. Strong dual-domain capability.
💡 The Strategic Persuader
SpecializedPattern:
Strategy ≥ 75%, Persuasion ≥ 75%, Systems < 70%
Strategic thinker with strong persuasion capabilities and solid execution foundation.
Strengths: Strategic positioning, emotional resonance, market foresight
🔧 The Strategic Operator
SpecializedPattern:
Strategy ≥ 75%, Systems ≥ 75%, Persuasion < 70%
Strategic thinker with strong execution systems and solid persuasion foundation.
Strengths: Strategic planning, structural design, operational foresight
📊 The Systematic Closer
SpecializedPattern:
Persuasion ≥ 75%, Systems ≥ 75%, Strategy < 70%
Strong executor with persuasion capabilities and solid strategic foundation.
Strengths: Trust building, process consistency, reliable delivery
TIER 4: STRONG
One domain ≥80%, others 60-74%. Elite capability in one area with solid foundation in others.
🎯 The Visionary Seller
StrongPattern:
Strategy > 80%
Strategic thinker with strong vision and solid execution and persuasion foundation.
Strengths: Strategic foresight, positioning expertise, market awareness
⚙️ The Execution Machine
StrongPattern:
Systems > 80%
Process-driven operator with strong systems and solid strategic and persuasion foundation.
Strengths: Structural clarity, process excellence, measurement discipline
🤝 The Relationship Builder
StrongPattern:
Persuasion > 80%
People-first leader who excels at building trust and connection with solid strategic and systems foundation.
Strengths: Deep connection, trust building, empathy
TIER 5: EMERGING
All domains 65-79%, none ≥80%. Well-rounded capabilities across all domains.
⚖️ The Balanced Builder
EmergingPattern:
All 60-75%
Solid foundation across all areas with no major gaps. Well-rounded skillset with adaptable approach.
Strengths: Well-rounded capability, adaptable mindset, no critical weaknesses
TIER 6: DEVELOPING
One domain 55-69%, others <55%. Emerging strength in one domain.
📈 The Emerging Strategist
DevelopingPattern:
Strategy highest, all < 70%
Founder with strategic thinking as the strongest capability across all three domains.
Strengths: Strategic vision, market positioning, forward thinking
🌟 The Emerging Connector
DevelopingPattern:
Persuasion highest, all < 70%
Founder with relationship building as the strongest capability across all three domains.
Strengths: Relationship building, empathy, connection
🛠️ The Emerging Builder
DevelopingPattern:
Systems 55-69%, Strategy <55%, Persuasion <55%
Process-oriented founder with systematic approach and operational consistency.
Strengths: Organized and systematic approach, process-building capability, operational consistency, methodical execution
TIER 7: FOUNDATION
All domains <60%. Early-stage development across all domains.
🌱 The Developing Founder
FoundationPattern:
All < 60%
Early-stage founder with emerging capabilities across Strategy, Persuasion, and Systems.
Strengths: Open to learning, self-awareness, adaptable mindset
🌟 The Aspiring Founder
DiscoveryPattern:
All domains <40%
Early-stage founder beginning the entrepreneurial journey across all three domains.
Strengths: Beginning the journey with eyes open, willingness to learn, adaptable mindset, early self-awareness
Quick Reference Guide
| Tier | Archetype | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| World Class | The Elite Performer | All domains ≥ 80% |
| Exceptional | The Strategic Executor | Strategy + Systems ≥ 80% |
| Exceptional | The Strategic Influencer | Strategy + Persuasion ≥ 80% |
| Exceptional | The Complete Operator | Systems + Persuasion ≥ 80% |
| Specialized | The Strategic Persuader | Strategy + Persuasion ≥ 75% |
| Specialized | The Strategic Operator | Strategy + Systems ≥ 75% |
| Specialized | The Systematic Closer | Persuasion + Systems ≥ 75% |
| Strong | The Visionary Seller | Strategy > 80% |
| Strong | The Execution Machine | Systems > 80% |
| Strong | The Relationship Builder | Persuasion > 80% |
| Emerging | The Balanced Builder | All 60-75% |
| Developing | The Emerging Strategist | Strategy highest, all < 70% |
| Developing | The Emerging Connector | Persuasion highest, all < 70% |
| Developing | The Emerging Builder | Systems 55-69%, others < 55% |
| Foundation | The Developing Founder | All < 60% |
| Discovery | The Aspiring Founder | All < 40% |
Identify Your Archetype
Take the SPS diagnostic and get your personalized founder profile with actionable insights.