What Qualities are needed to Champion or Sponsor Continual Improvement Projects? Some Traits and Attributes that Can Help!

Thinking of sending someone who works for you on Lean Six Sigma, Business or Continual Improvement (CI) training or are you being asked to sponsor or champion CI projects in your area or department? ?

In CI programmes the role of a Champion or Sponsor can be a significant one that will ultimately have a large impact in?either enabling or stifling success. ?

It should be remembered that although the Champion or Sponsor may not be directly responsible for running day to day CI project activities he or she should ultimately be held accountable for whether the work is successful.? Unfortunately, many Sponsors and Champions don’t see it that?way!?

From CI project selection and the identification of CI Team Leaders through to sign off of project and the resulting control plans as a Champion or Sponsor you need to be engaged and continuously involved.

The equation often works out to be very simple:?

• Passive Champion or Sponsor = CI project failure
• Proactive Champion or Sponsor = CI project success ?

Below are what I’d suggest are ten great qualities that successful CI Champions and Sponsors need to possess. ?If you're involved in a CI a programme (especially if you are a CI Project Leader) let’s see if you agree?

10 Attributes and Traits of?successful CI Project Champions and Sponsors

1 A passion for developing people and actively helping them use and broaden their skill set to help both the organisation and the individual?succeed

2 An understanding that formal training is just the first step in developing new competencies and that ‘learning by doing’ is key. ?Which?of course,?takes time, needs to allow?for set backs and requires management’s patience

3 A genuine interest in process and firm belief that ‘go see’ and ‘management by walking about’ is not a ‘nice to have if I had the time’, but a keystone of good leadership

4 An?objective, systematic and factual approach to making and justifying the?integrity of?decisions?

5 A?need to be challenged and a view that controversial concepts and ideas, including those counter to current?beliefs,?are?an opportunity to learn?

6 An ability to?clearly link strategy to?tactics - understanding the bigger picture, but being equally comfortable in discussing the detail

7 A knowledge and sense of?when and how to intervene?and also?when to take a step back and remain on the sidelines

8 A desire?to ‘roll up the sleeves’ and?lead the way using supportive actions and not just 'the right?words'?

?9 An ability to?influence within the organisation?and a genuine concern about the achievements of all of the?individuals in a?team that is looking to?deliver business success

10 An understanding of?the common sense, systematic and objective approach that CI methods provide and a passion and curiosity for using the tools involved

And 5 Things a Successful Champion Will Never Say

A?‘Once you’ve had the training find yourself a CI project, and off you go.? No need to check back if you think it will be beneficial I’m happy‘

B?‘You’ve had ten days out to do the training and now you want more time to do the project work?!!? Sorry, you must concentrate 100% on your functional role for the next 4 to 6 weeks’?

C?‘I know department X / manager Y are not cooperating, but what do you expect me to do?? You’re the Project Leader, you’ve been trained, just get on with it and use your new change management skills to get them on your side’ ?

D?‘I don’t have any specific ideas of what you need to work on, but I do know we need to reduce costs.? That’s why I sent you on the training to help us reduce costs - I don’t really care how!’?

E?‘Sorry, I don’t have time!’

Are these real statements recounted by people I have trained? ?In terms of sentiment expressed, even if not recalled?verbatim,?I’m afraid to say yes!?

Please comment and also share your stories of success and failure and how the Project Champion or Sponsor role in your CI programmes has influenced successful outcomes.

Contact and Other Information

For more information about the author please see my LinkedIn profile: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/andyslaney/

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