Can you win Olympic Gold with Six Sigma? Are there similarities between an Olympic athlete and Six Sigma? A little half way through the Olympic Games in Rio, we are witnessing some of the best athletic performances in history. Just as amazing are their background stories, getting to see exactly just what it takes to qualify for the Olympic games. As you see just what it takes, think about the similarities between qualifying an athlete for the Olympics and Six Sigma.

Using the Right Tools For Success

When an athlete starts down the road to qualify for the Olympics, they begin a process that involves tools the mirror tools of the practice of Six Sigma. Of course, their journey begins with focus, determination and a dream to reach the highest level of athletic competition. They secure the best coaches and the best facilities to create a total environment of success. Once the proper environment is established, they enter a training program that uses practices that have produced success over decades with Olympic athletes. Their training program uses performance metrics to measure and monitor their training progress. Every aspect of their training is measured and recorded. Coaches and trainers guide the athletes through training to ensure they are achieving continuous improvement. They start with the basic fundamentals and build their skills until they are achieving world class results. The athletes stay completely focused on nothing less than excellence and know what level of performance it take to win gold.

Winning Olympic Gold and Six Sigma

You may have noticed what we did. The approach to training an athlete who goes on to win Olympic gold contains the same fundamentals as the practice of Six Sigma. These amazing athletes cannot simply ‘be great’ at their sport to reach the highest levels of competition. That basic ability must be partnered with a practice for building success over time that truly produces the greatest of athletes.

If your Six Sigma projects are the Olympics, and your Green or Black belt training and continuing education is your practice for building success, how would you perform? Are you a gold medalist? Or would you have trouble making the Olympic team? Expecting to be proficient with Six Sigma after a couple training classes is unrealistic.

If you’d like to expand your training, check out our Six Sigma DMAIC curriculum >>>