How do you present lean six sigma results to your stakeholders?

1 Define your purpose and audience

Before you start preparing your presentation, you need to define your purpose and audience. What are the main goals and objectives of your project? What are the key messages and recommendations you want to convey? Who are your stakeholders and what are their expectations and interests? How much time and attention do they have? By answering these questions, you can tailor your presentation to fit your context and purpose.

2 Use the DMAIC structure

A common and effective way to organize your presentation is to use the DMAIC structure, which stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. This is the same framework that you used to execute your project, so it makes sense to follow it to show your results. For each phase, you can briefly summarize the problem statement, the data and tools used, the findings and solutions, and the outcomes and benefits. You can also highlight the challenges and risks you faced and how you overcame them.

3 Focus on the benefits and impacts

One of the most important aspects of your presentation is to demonstrate the benefits and impacts of your project. How did you improve the process performance and quality? How did you reduce waste, defects, and variation? How did you increase customer satisfaction and loyalty? How did you save time, money, and resources? How did you align your project with the strategic goals and vision of your organization? Use relevant metrics, charts, graphs, and tables to show the before-and-after comparisons and the return on investment.

4 Simplify and visualize your data

While data is essential to support your results, you don't want to overwhelm or confuse your audience with too much or too complex information. You need to simplify and visualize your data in a way that makes it easy to understand and remember. Use simple language, avoid jargon and acronyms, and explain any technical terms. Use visual aids, such as diagrams, flowcharts, maps, and photos, to illustrate your process and solutions. Use colors, shapes, and icons to highlight key points and contrasts. Use animations, transitions, and effects to enhance your presentation and keep your audience engaged.

5 Prepare for questions and feedback

The final part of your presentation is to invite questions and feedback from your audience. This is an opportunity to clarify any doubts, address any concerns, and showcase your expertise and confidence. You should anticipate some common or likely questions and prepare your answers in advance. You should also be ready to handle any unexpected or challenging questions with honesty and professionalism. You should thank your audience for their attention and participation, and provide them with any follow-up actions or resources.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?