Six Sigma Consulting - Watch your feet

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."  Lao-Tzu

People 'watch your feet', clients, co-workers, those you manage, even your direct family.  Both figuratively and literally  ( www.geox.com ) you must practice what you teach and teach what you practice.

Today I received a complement, but had to correct the giver.  A very successful friend of the family recently emailed me... and directly stated that I was better than she.  This young lady has seen the same difficulties as I, worse even, yet still managed to climb the corporate ladder breaking through the 'glass ceiling' in the process.  Thinking that I am better is simply ridiculous.  We are equal yet different.  What made such a silly thought 'pop' into such an intelligent lady's head? 

She was watching my actions.

I expect nothing less than perfection in everything I do; Six Sigma and Lean techniques and I are of the same substance.  My work area IS the 5S approach, when planning a vacation, trip, major purchase, etcetera I use the same strategies I teach during Six Sigma discussions.  If I am dissatisfied with something... I change it.  I challenge "accepted" or "assumed" knowledge and often triumph. 

She was so caught up in watching my actions that she did not see her own successes, she did not realize that I was watching her. 

When I am judging someone I look at what they have done, what they are doing, and what they are planning to do.  Then I consider what is coming out of their mouth.  Does it match? Are they “successful” yet wearing Payless Shoes?

Michael Christian Neumann

Six Sigma and Lean Consulting