Case: the lead who will not delegate

A new team lead absorbs all the critical-path work five weeks before a hard deadline. Two senior engineers do filler work. One is already interviewing.

You sit in the seat of Heba: the most senior engineer left, and the lead's former peer.

You will now hear the full case, one page, 5 minutes. Listen for what has already been tried.

Case: the laws in tension

• Empowerment: "I can do it faster myself" is the anti-law, and this lead is doing exactly that
• Priorities: absorbing everything means deciding nothing
• Sacrifice: working every night for the deadline feels like dedication; is it leadership?

Again, three laws, and they pull in different directions.

One deadline, both tracks

Whether you lead a team of reports or lead technical direction without reports, you have held work you should have handed over.

ICs hoard the component only they understand. EMs hoard decisions.

Same fear, same audit.