Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Playing to Your Strong Suit as a Spade
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Playing to Your Strong Suit as a Spade
What this episode covers
Why Spades matter: Their superpower is rigorous problem definition, research, and data synthesis—the foundation of smart strategy and R&D.
High vs. Low Spades: Where each gets energy (inward reflection vs. outward sharing) and how that shows up at work.
Common pitfalls: Analysis paralysis, undervaluing interpersonal dynamics, missing the big picture, and drifting into “know-it-all” or cynical territory under stress.
How to spot a Spade: The questions they ask, the cues they give, and why silence from them does not equal disengagement.
Communicating with Spades: Slow down, bring substance, allow thinking time, use email for reflection, and avoid interrupting their analysis.
Maximizing Spade contributions: Enlist their expertise, set clear decision deadlines, recognize knowledge achievements, and “sell” with facts and features.
Team design insight: Balance Spades with Diamonds (ideas), Clubs (execution), and Hearts (relationships) so decisions are both smart and adopted.
Key Takeaways
Define before you decide. Spades shine when the problem is ambiguous. Put them in front of fuzzy challenges and give them the mandate to clarify scope, criteria, and risks.
Progress beats perfection. Pair the Spade mindset with a “build it, try it, fix it” cadence to prevent endless analysis.
Respect the pace. Spades think deeply. Provide data in advance, ask pointed questions, and give time for considered responses.
Reward with recognition that fits. Articles, patents, peer acknowledgment, and visible ownership of insights motivate Spades more than generic praise.
Balance the system. Use Diamonds to broaden possibilities, Clubs to drive timelines and outcomes, and Hearts to energize adoption and stakeholder buy-in.
Bottom Line
Spades make innovation safer, smarter, and more strategic. Give them the right inputs, time, and recognition—and pair them with complementary styles—so your team can move from insight to impact.
Resources📘 Personality Poker by Stephen Shapiro — deepen your understanding of all four styles and how to build balanced, high-performing teams: https://a.co/d/1xWOKjX
Learn more, play the game, and unlock your team’s full potential at PersonalityPoker.com
Brought to you by Stephen Shapiro—helping people and organizations create high-performing collaboration, innovation, and teams since 2001.
View all episodes
By Stephen Shapiro
5
44 ratings
What this episode covers
Why Spades matter: Their superpower is rigorous problem definition, research, and data synthesis—the foundation of smart strategy and R&D.
High vs. Low Spades: Where each gets energy (inward reflection vs. outward sharing) and how that shows up at work.
Common pitfalls: Analysis paralysis, undervaluing interpersonal dynamics, missing the big picture, and drifting into “know-it-all” or cynical territory under stress.
How to spot a Spade: The questions they ask, the cues they give, and why silence from them does not equal disengagement.
Communicating with Spades: Slow down, bring substance, allow thinking time, use email for reflection, and avoid interrupting their analysis.
Maximizing Spade contributions: Enlist their expertise, set clear decision deadlines, recognize knowledge achievements, and “sell” with facts and features.
Team design insight: Balance Spades with Diamonds (ideas), Clubs (execution), and Hearts (relationships) so decisions are both smart and adopted.
Key Takeaways
Define before you decide. Spades shine when the problem is ambiguous. Put them in front of fuzzy challenges and give them the mandate to clarify scope, criteria, and risks.
Progress beats perfection. Pair the Spade mindset with a “build it, try it, fix it” cadence to prevent endless analysis.
Respect the pace. Spades think deeply. Provide data in advance, ask pointed questions, and give time for considered responses.
Reward with recognition that fits. Articles, patents, peer acknowledgment, and visible ownership of insights motivate Spades more than generic praise.
Balance the system. Use Diamonds to broaden possibilities, Clubs to drive timelines and outcomes, and Hearts to energize adoption and stakeholder buy-in.
Bottom Line
Spades make innovation safer, smarter, and more strategic. Give them the right inputs, time, and recognition—and pair them with complementary styles—so your team can move from insight to impact.
Resources📘 Personality Poker by Stephen Shapiro — deepen your understanding of all four styles and how to build balanced, high-performing teams: https://a.co/d/1xWOKjX
Learn more, play the game, and unlock your team’s full potential at PersonalityPoker.com
Brought to you by Stephen Shapiro—helping people and organizations create high-performing collaboration, innovation, and teams since 2001.