Competencies of a Lean Facilitator

Competencies of a Lean Facilitator

A candidate interested in becoming a Lean Facilitator with the State of Iowa should demonstrate the following competencies:

Interpersonal skills –

• Highly Organized
• Comfortable with public speaking
• Patient
• Flexible and adaptable
• Positive attitude
• Open to new ideas
• Respect for others
• Willing to see things from another person’s point of view

Communication Skills –

• Conveys ideas clearly and concisely when speaking
• Listens to clarify and understand
• Uses questions to probe for missing information or to clarify
• Can draw out key points of what was covered or communicate
• Receives feedback without interrupting or becoming defensive

Project Management Skills –

• Effectively plans, conducts, evaluates and follows-up meetings
• Keeps group discussion focused on central ideas
• Guides the decision making process without directing or influencing the actual decision
• Ability to make group members feel comfortable and encourage participation
• Remains neutral when facilitating group discussions
• Turns conflict into opportunities to achieve positive, productive results
• Delegate tasks to group members as appropriate

Systems thinking –

• Understands the purpose of a process or system and implements strategies to make improvements
• Gathers and uses data to make decisions

Continuous Improvement –

• Understands that those who do the work know best how to improve the work
• Enthusiastic about Lean and its impact on our operations