Overcome LEAN Six Sigma Resistance With WIIFM

Let's face it ... any change in any organization will meetyour Team Members.
with a certain amount of resistance and skepticism.- Why do they want to be on this team?
We are creatures of habit. However, when the- How can they benefit from the improved Process?
change you are contemplating falls in to the realm ofIn short, What's In It For Me?
Process Improvement, there are unique challengesPeople will naturally take actions that result in a
involved. Especially if you never learned the Peoplepersonal benefit. When you know "What's In It For Me",
Skills you need for smooth CPI Implementation.you can decide whether or not to participate. This
LEAN is more than just the Technical Skill Set. In fact,means you actually need to "Sell" the Benefits of
sometimes the more technically qualified you are, theLEAN Six Sigma by making sure everyone knows
harder you may find LEAN to implement. WHY ?"What's In It For Me".
LEAN Six Sigma does have a comprehensive set ofThink about the benefits of a fully implemented LEAN
technical tools with which you can approach anyproject for a moment ... the benefits to the Team
business process. You can spend months learning themembers on the front line.
various applications and nuances and, unfortunately,In most cases, they will get more done, in less time,
your data and compiling of statistics - the "Facts" doeswithout working harder AND can now take on the
little to counter the resistance and skepticism of yourhigher level job tasks that are more fulfilling. That is
Teams.their WIIFM.
Success with LEAN Six Sigma implementationYou can even involve the Team in clarifying the WIIFM
depends in large part on your People Skills.by asking a few high quality questions in your first
- Your ability to quickly establish your credibility andmeeting. It could go like this.
create a Context of Trust and Respect"Let's brainstorm for a second... when the workplace is
- To run effective meetings, keep the Team focusedorganized and we have made the line improvements
and on trackthat are the focus of this project ...
- To ask quality questions that keep the group- How will your work day be different
engaged and involved- What will you be able to stop doing?
- Your ability to teach the team the value of Process- What else will you be able to devote some time and
Improvement and hand the process over to themattention to that you cannot now?
When you focus too heavily on the Technical side of- How will all that feel?"
LEAN, you can unintentionally get in the way of theseTaking some time to establish What's in it for Them at
People Skills tasks. And your Teams remain resistantthe onset of the project is not in any LEAN Six Sigma
and obstructive.training manual AND it is a vital People Skill for CPI
Here's one People Skill's Tool that will get you startedSuccess.
on the Right Foot with a new Team.Try this WIIFM approach and notice the difference it
What's In It For Me (WIIFM)makes in your relationship with the Team.
The first step is to shift your perspective to that of