What Qualities Make for a Great Lean Six Sigma Green

Belt? Some Traits and Attributes that Often Help!

Andrew John SlaneyPrincipal Consultant, Coach and Trainer in Business Improvement Techniques and Lean Six Sigma (at BSI Group)

DMAIC

Thinking of expanding your skill set and getting Lean Six Sigma Green Belt trained?  Or has your manager recommended that you are put forward for a Green Belt role and suggested that you sit the course?

Typical Process WasteTransportInventory

MotionWaiting

OverproductionOverprocessing

DefectsMaster Black Belt

– programme and scorecard management, strategy, technical innovation, coaching and teaching across the organisation, leadership of macro-projects, identification of cross-

functional opportunities (full or part time role).

Black Belt – project leadership, delivery of improvements and ROI, coaching and teaching of Green/Yellow

Belts and others, identification of significant improvement opportunities (typically full time role).

Green Belt – project leadership, delivery of improvements and ROI, coaching and teaching of Yellow Belts

and others, identification of local improvement opportunities (part time role).

Yellow Belt – project team member or leader of small improvement activities, support of Black/Green Belt projects, identification of local improvement opportunities, use of tools in daily work (part time

role).

Champion/Sponsor – senior level oversight, strategy, leadership and advocacy, programme management,

corporate improvement goal setting (part time role).

White Belt – project team member, support of Black/Green/Yellow Belt activities, employee advocate for continuous improvement, identification of local improvement opportunities (part time role).

Undertaking Green Belt training is certainly a significant opportunity and your skills and competencies will potentially be greatly developed - you might ask, however, what traits and attributes will be needed to succeed in such a role once the training is over?  

Most reputable training providers will give you on-going support on your journey, but, hey, as a Green Belt you want to take responsibility don’t you?    You want to deliver your own improvement projects? Isn’t that what being an agent of change is all about? 

But do you have what it takes?  

Based on over 15 years experience of training and coaching executives and potential 'belts' in Lean Six Sigma I’d suggest the following are some of the great qualities that many successful Lean Six Sigma belts possess.

15 Traits and Attributes of Great Green Belt Change Agents

1 An enthusiasm to learn new skills, e.g., project management, change leadership, data and process analysis techniques.

2 A strong desire to inspire, lead and work with colleagues to the benefit of your organisation, it’s customers and potentially wider stakeholder groups.

3 A fact and data driven approach to work and decision making.

4 A practical and pragmatic approach to problem solving.

5 A positive attitude and belief that focussed hard work will lead to success.  

6 A capacity to both listen to and communicate ideas and concepts.

7 A talent to see the bigger picture, but still be comfortable with the detail.

8 An understanding that the ‘map rarely reflects the territory’ - at least when first drawn.

9 A high level of self-belief with a strength to negotiate and inspire confidence in others.

10 A flexibility in attitude towards new concepts and ideas. 

11 An ability to manage time and be conscious of the time given by others. 

12 The grit and a desire to see things through (‘no half finished jigsaws no matter how tough the puzzle’).

13 Someone who has a manager or sponsor that support’s them through both words and actions (if you haven't got one of these, get one!) 

14 A good team worker who demonstrates the need to rely on, but also support others.

15 Someone who has a genuine belief that all problems can be redefined as opportunities for positive change 

If the above sounds like you, you’re in good shape to become a great Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and potential future business leader!

And if above doesn’t sound like you - well hey, prove me wrong!

Personal Website: https://andyslaney.wordpress.com

Social Media:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyslaneyhttps://twitter.com/aj_slaney

BSI Website Lean Six Sigma Consultancy: http://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/our-services/professional-services/Lean-Six-Sigma-consultancy/;

BSI Website Lean Six Sigma Training: http://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/so-13053-lean-six-sigma/lean-six-sigma-training-courses/