In Parts 1 to 3 of this blog series, we covered how to create a Lean Six Sigma Mission and Vision, how to conduct a SWOT Analysis and how to set Goals and Success Measures. In this 4th and final part of the Lean Six Sigma Program Office Strategic Planning…
This month’s book is The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier. About the Book: You’re probably not getting very effective coaching and you’re probably not delivering very effective coaching. Sobering words from Mr. Stanier about the current state of…
This month’s book is Ask More: The Power of Questions to Open Doors, Uncover Solutions, and Spark Change by Frank Sesno. About the Book: In practical terms, this book is a guide to effective inquiry. What are the best questions to ask given the situation? How do we find out…
How do we get our employees excited about our organization’s Mission, Vision and Values? I’ve heard this concern from organizational leaders before and I wanted to share an example of a government organization successfully using a powerful but simple approach. The Usual Way A typical method of building an organization’s…
Every industry has challenges when it comes to applying process improvement. Government agencies have their own set of unique challenges that often make it difficult to achieve success. This means that when government agencies succeed with process improvement, it must be shared and celebrated. Sharing success provides much needed inspiration…
"The work of government is noble. The people of government are amazing. The systems of government are a mess." - Ken Miller, Author of Extreme Government Makeover In the book, Extreme Government Makeover, author Ken Miller likens government systems and processes to an old house in need of remodeling. When…
Government workers get a bad rap and it seems to be getting worse. I’d like to give you something to think about the next time you’re in line at the Motor Vehicle Registry, applying for Social Security or just picking up your mail. In my work as a consultant, I…
We need the support of others to make Lean Six Sigma process improvement (or any change) possible. But sometimes, we encounter challenges in getting team members or stakeholders to support our efforts. Here are 10 Types of Troublesome Team Members. General Best Practices for Troublesome Team Members Establish Ground Rules: Share…
Most organizations begin their Lean Six Sigma journey with training. This can be a great place to start if the culture is ready for it. However, it doesn’t make sense to start training employees on these highly effective concepts and tools if a high level of blame exists within the…
Almost 25 years ago, one of the best-selling management books of all time was released: Peter Senge’s "The Fifth Discipline." I know I was in the minority, but to be honest, I was not a big fan of the book. However, one thing really stood out for me and that…