Lean Six Sigma Refresher
Effective Speaking Tips
Effective speaking in Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is a critical skill because improvement projects rely heavily on collaboration, stakeholder buy-in, and clear communication of complex ideas. It’s not just about presenting data—it’s about persuading, aligning, and motivating people to act.
🎯 Why Effective Speaking Matters in LSS
Stakeholder Engagement: Sponsors, process owners, and team members need to understand the project’s value.
Clarity of Complex Data: Translating statistical analysis and process maps into simple, actionable insights.
Influence & Persuasion: Convincing stakeholders to support changes, allocate resources, or adopt new processes.
Conflict Resolution: Addressing resistance or skepticism with confidence and empathy.
Leadership Presence: Builds credibility for Green Belts and Black Belts leading cross-functional teams.
🧩 Key Elements of Effective Speaking in LSS
Know Your Audience
Tailor language for executives (strategic impact) vs. frontline staff (practical changes).
Structure Your Message
Use DMAIC as a natural framework: Define the problem, show data (Measure/Analyze), present solutions (Improve), and explain sustainability (Control).
Simplify Data
Replace jargon with visuals (charts, dashboards, infographics).
Focus on what the numbers mean rather than raw statistics.
Storytelling
Frame improvements as a narrative: “Here’s the problem, here’s what we found, here’s how we fixed it.”
Confidence & Presence
Clear voice, steady pace, eye contact, and open body language.
Engagement Techniques
Ask questions, invite feedback, and use analogies to make technical concepts relatable.
Call to Action
End with clear next steps or decisions needed from stakeholders.
✅ Value in Practice
Builds trust and credibility with sponsors.
Ensures alignment across diverse teams.
Increases the likelihood of successful adoption of improvements.
Strengthens the practitioner’s role as a change leader.