Three Most Important Skills for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Lean Six Sigma methods are incredibly beneficial tools for your team, department, and your company; when you understand where, when, and how to implement the methodology and tools that accompany it
A properly trained Lean Six Sigma Green Belt is a significant asset to your organization, and also to your career. In the hierarchy of Six Sigma credentials, the status of Green Belt carries a higher expectation of capability and professional performance. The certification will benefit you personally by expanding your career path and will benefit your company as you deploy your capabilities on behalf of the company.

Once you decide to pursue the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, there are three key skills (in addition to all your newly learned tool capabilities) that all successful Green Belts possess; leadership, organization and communication. Successful Green Belts are team players and support Black Belts on main Six Sigma projects.

Leadership Skills

As a Green Belt, you will be expected to lead small, defined projects that will not require a dedicated Black Belt. Your leadership skills will be critical in the first step of choosing the right team to work on these projects. Team members need to be able to work together to implement the project for the common goal of the business. As the project team lead, you will use your leadership and people skills to encourage creativity among the team members, give recognition for contributions, motivate your team members, and work together to improve business procedures.

Organizational Skills

Organization is another skill common to successful Green Belts. Green Belt professionals are trained to implement small-scale projects under the supervision of a Black Belt while continuing to do their daily job responsibilities. This is a big challenge for many, but the great ones are able to succeed through excellent organization skills. The ability to prioritize and coordinate resources and activities is key. Green Belts need to be able to use time management in their everyday routine to successfully execute a project plan while staying on top of their 9-5 role. Typically, 25-50% of a Green Belt's time is dedicated to the "leg work" of a Six Sigma project. A Green Belt will collect data and execute tests or experiments giving the Black Belt more time to focus on larger projects and achieving the overall goals of the company.

Communication Skills

A Green Belt also implements the project for the common goal of the business. Acting as a liaison between the Black Belt lead, Yellow Belts, Champions, and Sponsors, a Green Belt's ability to master communication skills is a critical element to success. Change can be difficult in the workplace, and not everyone will embrace the Six Sigma improvement process; therefore your communication skills will be needed to easily explain the DMAIC techniques and the positive impact they will have on the business.

Attaining Green Belt certification while currently working at a company is an advantage for you in becoming a successful project leader. While Black Belt certified individuals are hired for their statistical expertise and higher level of Six Sigma knowledge, a Green Belt currently working will already have company procedure knowledge and experience to execute the project plan successfully. This business knowledge combined with Six Sigma tools and methods along with the three paramount skills of leadership, organization, and communication will surely help advance your career and your company.