Needle Captain Certification™ — Run the weekly. Keep it moving.
Captains make Mondays (or Fridays) count.
This certification trains the person who runs the 20-minute weekly review: the agenda, the clock, the one-page dashboard, and the decision log. Captains keep focus, surface blockers, and make sure every loop ends with a clear next move.
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Why this?
Clarity dies without cadence. Most teams don’t need more meetings; they need one small meeting that works—same time, same page, one decision. Captains make that meeting real, repeatable, and drama-free.
Different from the Leader: Leaders set direction and connect goals.
Captains run the loop—they make the week move, hold the timebox, and keep decisions visible.
Outcomes (what certified captains can do)
Facilitate the 20-minute weekly—tight agenda, on time, no status theater.
Maintain the one-page dashboard—update the few measures that matter and keep the decision log current.
Drive decision hygiene—end with keep / tune / kill (one sentence, one owner, one date).
Handle blockers fast—assign owners, apply the escalation path, avoid thrash.
Run Evidence or Elimination™ gates—apply simple acceptance ranges on the agreed date.
Nudge the loop—send pre-reads and lightweight reminders in Slack/Teams so people show up prepared.
Translate plans into weekly moves—turn objectives into tiny steps people can take before the next session.
Captains don’t write OKRs or run the setting workshop—that’s the Leader’s job. Captains operate the system so progress shows up every week.
What’s included
Captain Run Sheet (PDF) — simple 20-minute script + timeboxes.
Checklist & Decision Log — one page to capture What moved?, learning, one blocker, and the decision.
Dashboard template — the minimum viable view (Outcome + notes + decision log).
Nudge Pack — ready-to-paste messages for Slack/Teams (pre-read, morning reminder, “drop your update”).
Blocker Protocol — how to assign, escalate, and close without side meetings.
Scenario drills — role-plays for common edge cases (late data, missing owner, wandering updates).
Credential — digital certificate + badge (valid 12 months).
A cohort seat is included with Needle Launch™. Recert seats are included in Needle Loop License™ tiers.
Format & pricing
Live Cohort (remote) — 2 hours
Interactive, hands-on, capped group size.
€450 per captain (min 6, max 20)
On-site Intensive — ½ day
For one team or department at your location.
€4,000 on-site (Benelux, + travel) — up to 20 captains
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How the training runs
We practice the real thing: a short intro to “what good looks like,” a live run of the 20-minute review, and scenario drills to handle the messy bits—late data, rabbit holes, surprise blockers. Captains leave with the run sheet, nudge pack, and decision log they’ll use next week.
After certification
Captains put the loop to work in your Needle Launch™ sessions (two live reviews) and keep it healthy under the Needle Loop License™—with quarterly audits and recert seats to avoid drift.
Practicalities
Who: team leads, EMs, PMs, chiefs of staff—whoever will host the weekly.
Prep: bring one page with your current measures (or a simple KPI screenshot).
Tools: we work in your stack (Sheets/Notion/Slack/Teams). You own the data.
Boundaries: fixed scope, fixed time, no ongoing DMs.
FAQs
Is this the same as Leader Certification?
No. Leaders set direction and connect goals. Captains run the weekly and keep decisions moving.
Do captains need analytics skills?
Only enough to update a simple page. If data is messy, we’ll use a starter view and improve during Foundations or Launch.
Will captains be expected to coach teams?
Light coaching inside the meeting, yes. Deep coaching belongs to certified Coaches or your Leaders.
What if our captain changes?
Swap them. Recert seats are included in Needle Loop License™.
Can we certify multiple captains?
Yes—redundancy prevents drift. Many teams certify a primary and a backup.
Ready to keep the week moving?
Enroll a captain · Schedule a free call