Introduction

Ready to champion change in your organisation? Our Lean Six Sigma for Sponsors training gives you a practical understanding of what it takes to create an environment where Lean Six Sigma can thrive. You don’t need to master the detail of every tool and technique, but we’ll provide enough insight for you to sponsor with credibility. Designed for managers, directors and process owners sponsoring Lean Six Sigma projects, our programme will equip you to support improvement teams, review projects effectively, and avoid the actions and behaviours that can unintentionally undermine progress.  

Delivered in either a one or two-day session, this programme explores the leadership actions, behaviours and organisational conditions that determine whether Lean Six Sigma projects succeed or stall. You’ll gain an understanding of the DMAIC framework – Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve and Control – from a sponsor’s perspective, understanding what to look for and what questions to ask at each stage. 

Participants will be able to:

• Understand their role in creating the right environment for Lean Six Sigma to thrive 

• Recognise and model the supportive behaviours that enable improvement teams to succeed 

• Sponsor a Lean Six Sigma project with confidence, from chartering through to closure 

• Review project progress effectively, asking the right questions at each DMAIC stage 

• Identify the behaviours that can unintentionally hinder improvement efforts 

• Support Belts and project teams through resistance, competing priorities and change fatigue 

• Champion a culture of data-driven decision making and sustained improvement 

Why choose this programme?

Successful Lean Six Sigma projects depend on far more than the capability of the practitioner leading them. The organisations that achieve the greatest results are those with leaders who understand their role, provide visible support, remove barriers, and create the conditions for improvement to succeed. By understanding what good sponsorship looks like at each stage of a project, participants can better support teams, challenge constructively, make informed decisions and keep projects aligned to strategic objectives. 

With effective sponsorship, improvement teams are more likely to maintain momentum and motivation, focus in the right areas, and deliver sustainable results. This course helps leaders create the conditions for translating improvement efforts into measurable business outcomes rather than stalled initiatives or unrealised potential. 

Delivery options

• In-company delivery (virtual or classroom-based), carried out over 1 or 2 days, depending on the required level of depth

• Flexible formats for in-company training: consecutive full days or split half-day sessions  

• Tailored examples and discussions specific to your teams, projects, delivery challenges and organisational context 

Course overview

• Introduction to Lean Six Sigma: Gain an understanding of the key concepts and principles of Lean Six Sigma and understand the sponsor’s role in creating the conditions for successful improvement and championing change 

• Define: Ensure projects are aligned to strategic priorities, clearly scoped, and focused on delivering customer and business value 

• Measure: Review baseline performance, validate measures, and ensure decisions are based on reliable data 

• Analyse: Support teams in identifying true root causes, providing challenge and guidance to avoid assumptions and premature solutions 

• Improve: Remove barriers, secure resources, and enable timely decision-making to support successful implementation 

• Control: Ensure ownership, governance and accountability are in place to sustain improvements and realise expected benefits