📍 Status: First formal leadership level, leading 3-4 person pod
🎁 You Earned: 150+ hours, coordination ability, leadership endorsement
The Crew Lead is the first formal leadership level. You lead a small pod of 3-4 people, responsible for both delivering work and developing your team members. This is where you transition from individual excellence to making others successful.
🎯 Activities
Activity
Description
👥 Lead pod
Direct a small team toward goals
📈 Develop people
Grow your team members
✅ Deliver work
Ensure pod outcomes
🤝 Coordinate
Interface with other pods and leads
⚖️ Key Difference from Level 3
⚙️ Operator/Specialist
👥 Crew Lead
Individual accountability
Team accountability
Own workstreams
Own pod outcomes
Coordinate informally
Lead formally
Develop self
Develop others
🏗️ Pod Structure
Role
Typical Composition
👥 You (Crew Lead)
1 lead
🔧 Contributors
1-2 members
⚙️ Operators
0-1 members
🌿 Apprentices
0-1 members
Total
3-4 direct reports
👥 3-4 direct reports is the target. Larger groups should split into multiple pods.
✅ Must Do
👥 Lead pod to achieve assigned goals
💬 Conduct regular 1:1s with team members
📝 Provide feedback and coaching
⭐ Ensure work quality
📊 Report pod status to leadership
🔧 Handle pod-level issues
🟡 May Do
💡 Propose pod structure changes
👥 Participate in hiring/selection
📋 Represent pod in planning
📝 Sponsor proposals (mid-scope)
🎓 Mentor outside your pod
❌ Cannot Do
❌ Hire/fire (recommend only)
💰 Set pod budgets
🤝 Make cross-pod commitments
🎯 Override project priorities unilaterally
📈 People Development
Activity
Frequency
💬 1:1 meetings
Weekly
📝 Feedback
Ongoing + formal quarterly
🎯 Goal setting
Quarterly
⬆️ Promotion support
As earned
📋 Work Management
Activity
Frequency
📝 Planning
Weekly
📊 Status tracking
Daily/ongoing
⭐ Quality review
Per deliverable
🔄 Retrospectives
Bi-weekly
🧠 The Leadership Transition
❌ Old Mindset
✅ New Mindset
"I deliver"
"We deliver"
"My work quality"
"Team work quality"
"My growth"
"Team growth"
"Do it myself"
"Enable others"
⭐ Success is now measured by your team's success.
💰 EQTBLT Rates
Work Type
EQTBLT Range
👔 Leadership time
35-50/hour
🔧 Direct contribution
30-45/hour
🤝 Coordination
35-50/hour
🎓 Mentoring/coaching
40-55/hour
👥 Crew Leads typically spend 50-70% of time on leadership vs direct work.
🗳️ Governance Access
Capability
Access
🗳️ Voting
✅ Yes, 1.08× weight
📝 Proposals
Mid-scope, can sponsor
👥 Working group
Leadership participant
🏛️ Committee
Standard committees
🚀 Path to Project Lead (Level 5)
Your Progress: 🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ Level 5 of 10
✅ Requirements
📋 Evidence Needed
Evidence
Purpose
📊 Pod delivery record
Shows capability
📈 Team member development
Shows leadership
🤝 Cross-pod coordination examples
Shows collaboration
📝 360° feedback collection
Shows trust
✅ Leadership endorsement
Shows recognition
📢 Communication
Skill
Application
🎯 Clarity
Set clear expectations
👂 Listening
Understand team needs
📝 Feedback
Help people grow
🔍 Transparency
Share context and decisions
🤝 Coordination
Skill
Application
📝 Planning
Break down and sequence work
📋 Delegation
Match work to people
📊 Tracking
Know where things stand
⬆️ Escalation
Surface issues appropriately
📈 Development
Skill
Application
💡 Coaching
Help people solve problems
🎓 Mentoring
Guide career development
📝 Feedback
Provide actionable input
📢 Advocacy
Support team advancement
❓ Common Challenges
Challenge
How to Handle
🔧 Still doing all the work
Delegate, trust your team
😟 Team member struggles
Coach, provide support, escalate if needed
⚔️ Cross-pod conflicts
Communicate, find solutions, escalate
⚖️ Balancing lead vs do
Block time for leadership
💡 Tips for Success
💬 Invest in 1:1s - This is where relationships build
📝 Give feedback early - Small corrections prevent big problems
📋 Delegate real work - Not just tasks you don't want
🎉 Celebrate wins - Recognition matters
🛡️ Protect your team - Shield from unnecessary noise
🚀 Next Steps
👥 Master 1:1 conversations
📈 Develop your team members
🤝 Build cross-pod relationships
📊 Build your leadership track record
Ready to advance? Talk to your Project Lead about your leadership development.