What CEOs REALLY want from Quality/CI/OpEx.....

...LEADERSHIP, CHARISMA, INTEGRITY AND TRUST

CEOs invest in "quality", "continuous improvement" and "operational excellence" teams, programs and projects and rely on them to lead the organization toward best outcomes, a superior customer experience and a culture for excellence.  Too often, however, these "quality" teams are under skilled, under engaged, under valued and consequently, do not meet expectation. 

One very common reason is that there is rarely a clear career path or professional development program for "quality people".  "Quality people" are often high performing individuals at various functions within the organization who are identified as high potential and find themselves recruited into "quality/CI/OpEx" roles and teams, without much clarity of how to grow into their role.  After that, they must often forge their own development path by seeking out special training, professional certificates and they do a lot of self-education.

Organizations often struggle with creating a development path for quality professionals because there is no "one best way" or universally accepted program.  "Quality/CI/OpEx" outcomes and expectations vary from organization to organization, industry to industry and are also extremely dynamic and ever changing.  Just as one skill gap is identified and the quality professional obtains the training on the tool or methodology they need, a new problem or challenge arises steering them in a different direction.  Identifying and developing a high performing quality team is a big challenge for most organizations.  

So, how do we flip the script and make quality professionals an organization's high-demand "go to" team?  What do quality professionals really need to excel at to do their best work for the organization?

In addition to technical skills such as statistical analysis, disciplined problem solving, industry specific compliance knowledge, technical writing, metrology (inspection/measuring methodologies), knowledge of specifications, blueprints, coding, etc, which are often learned in a hybrid model of on-the-job training and supplemental continuing education/seminars, there are some leadership and soft skills which are critical for quality professionals.

The most common bottom line is, the quality group has a LOT of responsibility for quality, with VERY LITTLE authority over processes and the management of the business.  So, they must absolutely MASTER "influence without authority".  And in order to do that, they need a variety of leadership skills that are recognized for many other types of leadership roles within the organization, but are often forgotten for quality professionals.  

In a recent feature, "Make It" on CNBC reported "The best leaders have four key skills:"

1. Adaptability: Being comfortable with unanticipated changes and diverse situations; being able to adjust to constraints and rebound from adversity.
2. Curiosity: Approaching problems in novel ways; seeing patterns and understanding how to synthesize complex information; having the desire to achieve a deep understanding of things.
3. Detail-oriented: Having the ability to systematically carry out tasks as assigned, with an understanding of the procedures and the importance of exactitude.
4. Tolerance of ambiguity: Being comfortable with uncertainty and willing to make decisions and plans in the face of incomplete information.

Does your Quality/CI/OpEx leader and team excel at these behaviors?

Stewart Leadership conducted a survey from executives, managers, and employees from Fortune 500, mid-sized, start-up, and government organizations across multiple industries.  The Top 10 Most Desired Leadership Behaviors are:

1. Sets clear strategic direction.
2. Knows when to stop analyzing an issue and make a decision.
3. Follows through on actions, promises, and assignments.
4. Has the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively perform job duties.
5. Demonstrates high ethical standards.
6. Lives, leads, manages, and works with integrity.
7. Accepts responsibility for own actions.
8. Leverages the strengths of each team member.
9. Treats others with dignity.
10. Creates a working environment that motivates high individual performance.

Specifically, does your Quality/CI/OpEx leader and team excel at these behaviors?

The good news is that these sometimes intangible skills CAN be learned.  And the quality profession actually provides a perfect environment for daily learning and practice of these necessary skills.  The bad news is, there are few resources available that can provide exposure to the concepts with opportunities to apply and practice these skills as well as follow up with guidance and feedback.  

UNTIL NOW!  Pave a path toward better performance in the quality management profession through my personal coaching program.  

I'm a dynamic and passionate operational excellence expert who is laser-focused on increased productivity through better quality. I help transform  quality professionals and their organizations by shifting mindset toward creating DEMAND for quality through engagement, better communication and collaboration throughout the organization in order to change the concept of QUALITY to a PRIORITY (not a "necessary evil").

Having served as "the quality leader" in multiple organizations and being a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with 20+ years of broad-spectrum, hands-on experience in management, sales & marketing, strategic planning, consulting, training and quality process improvement in many industries – automotive (metal stamping, coil steel, CNC machining, plastics, injection molding, blow molding, thermoplastic extrusion, heat treat, plating, painting, packaging), aerospace, defense, electronics/electrical, consumer products, environmental services, lead acid battery recycling (secondary lead smelting), logistics and transportation, gives me an advantage. I understand quality and how it applies to a multitude of industries.  And I've learned the art of having influence without authority and having that actually work as an advantage.  I can help any quality professional master these skills as well.  

I'll help you learn the skills to transform your entire organization by:
- CHANGING the concept of QUALITY to a PRIORITY (not a "necessary evil")
- CREATING a new organization-wide DEMAND for your quality team and system to increase engagement
- UNITING your quality system with your continuous improvement efforts for MAXIMUM VALUE and a better customer experience
- CLEARING out the clutter and making your quality system LEAN – (LESS paperwork!)
- FOSTERING a commitment to OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE and CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT for better business results
I specialize in "selling quality" and demonstrating the transformative value to be gained through operational excellence for your team and your business.

Connect with me today and let's start a FIRE under your quality system!  Let's customize a path forward starting TODAY!  Weekly and monthly coaching sessions are available as well as virtual and on site LIVE support when you're ready to tackle something juicy like ISO9001/AS9100/IATF16949/ISO14001 quality systems, kaizen events, 5S, Internal Auditor training, PPAP/APQP, FMEAs, control plans, problem solving, etc.  

Less impactful, but certainly still helpful, here are some easy, introductory reading resources on the idea of "influence without authority".  I can help you take these concepts "next level".

But, if you want to dig deeper by working with a personal coach and custom program, weekly and monthly coaching sessions are available as well as virtual and on site LIVE support.  Join the community and we'll meet whenever it's most convenient for you to work together to achieve your goals.  Your time will be "quality time" with me.  Whatever your current challenges, whatever you want to learn more about, whatever you want to discuss.  This is YOUR time.  Join the hundreds of other people who want to pursue their dreams and hone their skills as a World Class quality professional!