Needle Leader Certification™ — Set direction. Create accountability.

Leaders make choices that travel.
This certification turns executives and team leads into clarity-makers: people who can set good OKRs, connect them across levels, run the setting workshop, and choose the right kinds of Key Results—so weekly progress actually means something.

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Why this?

Most teams don’t lack effort—they lack clear, connected goals and a leader who can turn intent into a few measurable commitments. This certification gives your leaders a simple, repeatable way to do exactly that, without adding process for process’ sake.

Different from the Captain: Captains facilitate the weekly 20-minute review.
Leaders define what matters, how we’ll measure it, and how teams connect to it—then hold a short cadence that keeps everyone honest.

Outcomes (what certified leaders can do)

  • Write a real Objective (one sentence anyone can repeat).

  • Choose a handful of measures leadership actually cares about (no vanity, no noise).

  • Run the OKR setting workshop (2 hours) with a tight agenda and a clear outcome.

  • Connect company → teams: translate strategy into team commitments without breaking autonomy.

  • Pick the right KR types at the right time:

    • Outcome KRs (the change you want to see)

    • Lead KRs (Behavior or Flow—what you control each week)

    • Signals (temporary proxies while you learn)

    • Guardrails (don’t-get-worse boundaries)

  • Write Acceptance Criteria (Go / Hold / Kill ranges) so decisions are obvious.

  • Avoid OKR theater: one page, one decision, twenty minutes.

What’s included

  • Leader Workbook (PDF): prompts, examples, and quick tests for good OKRs.

  • Setting Workshop Guide (2-hour agenda, slides, facilitator notes).

  • Cheat sheets: KR types (Outcome/Lead/Signal), Guardrails, Acceptance Criteria.

  • Templates: Focus Card, one-page dashboard, decision log.

  • Clinic access: one Decision Clinic (45 min) within 30 days to review your first set.

  • Credential: digital certificate + badge (valid 12 months).

A shorter Leader mini-clinic (60–90 min) is included inside Needle Focus™. This page is the full certification.

Format & pricing

Live Cohort (remote) — 2 × 2 hours

Interactive, case-based, capped group size.
€1,200 per leader (min 5, max 12)

On-site Intensive — ½ day

For one leadership group in your location.
€6,000 on-site (Benelux, + travel) — up to 12 leaders

Enterprise + Academy

Bundle seats with Needle Academy and Needle Loop License™ for ongoing refreshers and recert.

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Syllabus (plain English)

  1. Clarity that travels
    Write Objectives people remember. Cut “initiatives-masquerading-as-goals.”

  2. Measures that matter
    Choose the few numbers that move leadership decisions.

  3. KR types, without jargon
    Outcome vs Lead (Behavior, Flow) vs Signal, plus Guardrails—how to pick.

  4. The setting workshop
    2-hour run-of-show, roles, prompts, and how to close with decisions—not ideas.

  5. Connection across levels
    Company → teams: keep autonomy, kill misalignment.

  6. Acceptance Criteria & decision gates
    Ranges that prevent sunk-cost drift; when to keep / tune / kill.

  7. Anti-theater guardrails
    One page, one owner, one weekly decision. How leaders show up.

Assessment & certification

To earn the credential, leaders must:

  • Submit a Focus Card (Objective + measures + guardrails).

  • Draft an OKR set for one team (with KR types labeled).

  • Share a Setting Workshop plan (agenda + roles).

  • Pass a short knowledge check (KR types & acceptance ranges).

  • Attend the cohort (or on-site intensive).

Recertification (12 months): quick update clinic or submit a recent OKR set for review (included with Needle Loop License™ tiers).

Who it’s for

  • Execs and senior leads who own direction and alignment.

  • New product/engineering leaders who need a clean, usable OKR model.

  • Groups tired of goal spreadsheets that don’t survive contact with Monday.

How it fits with the rest

  • Executive Briefing — feel the loop, choose the next move.

  • Needle Focus™ — define the needle; mini Leader clinic included.

  • Needle Launch™ — run the weekly twice and reach Evidence or Elimination™.

  • Needle Loop License™ — monthly clinics, quarterly audits, recert seats.

FAQs

Is this the same as Captain Certification?
No. Captains run the weekly 20-minute review. Leaders define direction and measures, connect teams, and run the setting workshop.

Will we rewrite all our goals?
Usually not. We tighten language, trim noise, and add acceptance ranges so decisions stick.

Can leaders from different departments join the same cohort?
Yes—helpful, in fact. Shared language reduces friction later.

What if we don’t have good data yet?
We’ll use sensible ranges and starter signals. You can firm them up after Foundations or during Launch.

Ready to certify your leaders?

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