Thinking outside the box is a common phrase that is often used to encourage innovative and creative thinking. However, whenever I hear this phrase, I can’t help but question why there is a box in the first place. Why do we limit ourselves by thinking inside or outside the box? Personally, I don’t think inside the box, I don’t think outside the box, and I don’t even know where the box is! In my opinion, we constrain ourselves when we box ourselves in, preventing us from seeing solutions outside of the status quo. If you find yourself boxed in, the solution is simple – get rid of the box. For me, Lean Six Sigma is a tool that helps to remove the box and allows for limitless thinking.

Think of watching a movie in high definition (HD). Can you remember what an image looked like prior to HD television? Similarly, looking at the world through the lens of a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt provides us with a high-resolution and clear image of a problem. Lean Six Sigma is a problem-solving approach that not only improves our metacognitive capacity but also our earning capacity. It is a skill set that is highly valued by successful businesses around the world. By mastering Lean Six Sigma, you can transform the way you think and become extremely marketable to top organizations looking for change agents and problem solvers.

So, what exactly is Lean Six Sigma? It is an unconventional problem-solving approach that forces you to think outside the box. Some of the most successful individuals, such as Jack Welch, have used this methodology to transform organizations like General Electric. Powerhouse companies like Toyota and Amazon also utilize similar approaches daily to radically improve their organizations. Lean Six Sigma is a customer-focused and data-driven problem-solving method with the goal of improving quality, cost, and speed. It utilizes the DMAIC problem-solving methodology, which stands for Define the problem, Measure the baseline, Analyze the process and find the root cause of the problem, Improve the process and implement best solutions, and Control the process and sustain the gains.

By learning Lean Six Sigma, you not only gain the ability to solve problems but also gain a deeper understanding of what defines a problem. A problem is essentially a gap between how we perceive reality and what reality actually is. Lean Six Sigma provides a framework for understanding our paradigm and mental models within the world we live in. Now that you understand the basics of Lean Six Sigma and the reasons why you should learn it, let’s dive into the top four tools and techniques within the methodology.

The first tool and technique we must master is learning to see by mapping out our process. By visually mapping out the entire process from start to finish, we can uncover hidden waste and inefficiencies. Mapping out a process allows us to see the bigger picture and gain a clear and accurate understanding of the current state of affairs.

The second technique is known as the 5-Why. This simple yet powerful technique requires us to repeatedly ask “Why?” to peel away the layers of symptoms and get to the core of the problem. By relentlessly asking “Why?” we can uncover the root cause and address it directly.

The third tool is waste removal. Waste in a process is defined by the customer. Once the customer’s value is defined, we must prioritize our value-added activities. First, we eliminate all non-value added activities that do not serve a purpose. Then, we look at reducing the amount of non-value added required activities. These are tasks that add no value but are mandated by law or regulatory guidance. Finally, we optimize the value-added activities, which are the tasks that are already working effectively.

The fourth tool is the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule. By applying this principle, we can identify the 20% of actions causing 80% of the problem or bringing in 80% of the profit. The Pareto Principle allows us to focus our efforts on the areas that will have the greatest impact.

To ensure that we are truly thinking in high definition, I recommend utilizing Blooms Taxonomy of Learning. This tool helps us determine if we are truly using our metacognitive skills and thinking critically about a problem. By asking ourselves questions such as “Can you define or describe the problem?” and “Can you solve the problem and describe your thought process to someone with no understanding of the problem?” we can ensure that we are seeing the problem from all angles and thinking creatively to find solutions.

In conclusion, thinking outside the box is essential to problem-solving and innovation. By removing the imaginary box that limits our thinking, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and solutions. Lean Six Sigma is a valuable skill set that enables us to think beyond the constraints of the box and approach problems with a high-resolution lens. By mastering the tools and techniques of Lean Six Sigma, we can become change agents and problem solvers that are sought after by top organizations. So, let’s embrace the mindset of thinking without limits and unlock our full potential.