What is the advantage for an organization to initiate and support coaching within their Six Sigma effort? Or stated another way: Why should an organization spend resources to develop coaches and a coaching initiative? What is the payoff to the company?

Good question. Here is a summary of value coaches add within a six sigma initiative.

Maximize Value Of Projects To Strategic Objectives: Advise senior leadership to select, focus and maximize value of six sigma projects to support organizational objectives.

Speed Change Management Adaptation: Support and encourage involvement to embrace process improvements and cultural change. Avoid backsliding and entropy.

Avoid Costly Project Problems: Foresee and avoid breakdowns with people, team, culture, or change management issues.

Increase Effectiveness Of Experienced Belts: Coach experienced belts to minimize project timelines, avoid pitfalls, overcome barriers, and encourage stakeholder buy-in.

Enhance Team Effectiveness: Support teams through initial formation to come up to speed quickly, help dysfunctional teams correct behaviors and overcome difficulties. Assess and advise well-functioning teams to avoid typical pitfalls such as group-think.

Maximize Value Of Training Dollars: Support green and black belts through training process by helping them get off to a fast start and ensuring the belts’ success in their first projects.

Reduce Certification Glitches: Support green and black belts through the certification process (both project completion and examination preparation). Advise and serve on six sigma steering committees and certification panels.

Avoid Costly Application Errors: Serve as subject matter and knowledge expert for correct selection and application of six sigma tools and methodology.

Model Six Sigma Leadership: Take leadership role to liaison with stakeholders, process owners and customers, to focus project selection, change management, and process improvements to organizational strategic objectives.

Develop And Facilitate A COPs – Community Of Practitioners: Develop a cohort of belts within the organization to bring a comprehensive approach to the conduct of projects and overall management of the six sigma initiative and to formulate and promote a common voice for six sigma across the organization.

Note:
In a 1999 survey conducted by the Work Foundation, a UK evidence-based research and management consultancy, of 339 human resource and personal specialists, the research determined that 69% of the respondents reported higher organizational performance and productivity as an outcome from their formal coaching initiative.

Currently The Six Sigma Coach is engaged in a research initiative to demonstrate the value (both financial and performance) resulting from a coaching initiative. Participants in our workshops are invited and encouraged to participate in this research. For more information, contact us.