Why Train People to Become Masterful Brainstorming Facilitators?

Originally Published 9.6.2014

I always tell this to my friends (most especially executives and hiring managers):

"If someone introduced himself to you as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and says 'I can solve your problems at work using Lean Six Sigma.'" DO NOT believe him, and do not hire that person.

I make sure that all my Lean Six Sigma students understand this point: The real Lean Six Sigma practitioners are expert facilitators. Lean Six Sigma professionals are indeed skillful with process improvement tools and methodology and are competent in using statistical and graphical analysis using Minitab, but at the end of the day, it will be the process owners who will analyze for root causes and develop and implement solutions that will address the problem. Your main role as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt is to pick the correct tools in your Lean Six Sigma toolbox and facilitate the discussions. You are there as a coach, and not as the "star" player. You guide them through the DMAIC methodology and explain how to read graphs and statistics.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, make things simple. Make things practical. Do not use complicated statistics just to show off and feed your egos. Make your team members feel smarter. By doing that, not only you help them solve their problems and make their lives easier, but they will also start to think you're the brightest person without exerting effort. Trust me :)

Who then are the process owners?
Process owners are the persons who are doing the process on a day-to-day basis, not just the supervisors and managers. They are the blood of your operations. Your operators, your processors, your analysts, your call center agents. Those who perform and do the process.

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