Success Story or a Coherent Story!
Why no one buys a Show they haven’t seen!
In a world obsessed with outcomes, we often forget to tell the real story of the process - the grind, the iteration, the refinement, the why behind the what. We share our triumphs but seldom the tribulations, leaving our audience applauding an act they didn’t fully witness.
Yet for every successful pitch - be it for funding, stakeholder buy-in, a new job, or a transformation programme - what seals the deal isn’t just the result. It’s the coherent, contextualised credible narrative of the journey that made that success possible.
In my experience, a very few organisations and individuals know how to tell that story. They either glorify the end or overshare the chaos. Rarely do they connect the dots in a disciplined, data-driven, and value-centric way.
This is where Lean 6σ and more precisely the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control) and DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyse, Design, Verify) methodologies, become narrative gold.
The Missing Narrative: Process matters more than we Think!
Picture this: you are presenting a business case or making a pitch to a client or investor. You list KPIs, Return On Investment (RoI) figures, maybe a few screenshots or testimonials. But the real question in their minds is:
“How did you get there, and can you do it again?”
This is the difference between showing a shiny product and demonstrating a repeatable system.
Without a method, our success looks like luck.
With a method, our success becomes inevitable.
Lean 6σ provides the method to the madness. It maps the chaos, quantifies the risks, pinpoints the root causes, and ensures value is created and sustained - not by chance, but by design.
DMAIC & DMADV: Not Just Process Tools, But Storytelling Frameworks
Let’s demystify this a bit.
DMAIC is the go-to model when improving something that already exists - like refining operations, fixing service flaws, or optimising team performance.
DMADV is your blueprint when you are creating something new - a product, a service, a system, or even a new life direction.
Each phase of these models isn’t just a step in a process - it’s a chapter in your story!
Used right, DMAIC and DMADV don’t just improve your outcomes - they build the narrative arc of your performance, making your pitch not only compelling but credible.
My Advice: Whether you are an Organisation or an Individual, here is what you must do!
For Organisations
Stop pitching only outputs. Start pitching value journeys. Use DMAIC or DMADV to shape your projects and then tell that story.
Train your teams in storytelling with substance. Every project update or performance report should walk stakeholders through a disciplined path from insight to impact.
Use Control or Verify phases as your proof-points not just snapshots, but evidence of embedded excellence.
Tailor your narrative for each audience - executives want strategy and ROI, frontline staff want clarity and confidence.
For Individuals carving their Path!
Think of your career trajectory as a DMADV project:
Define what success looks like for you.
Measure your current capability (skills, networks, mindset).
Analyse the gap.
Design your route (courses, mentors, experiences).
Verify your growth through reflection and impact.
When applying for roles, as an example, don’t just say you led or delivered - show how you applied thinking, overcame hurdles, adapted. People remember stories, not slogans.
Final Word: Show the Work, Not just the Win
Whether it is winning over investors, influencing board decisions, or landing your next big role, remember this:
People don’t invest only in results. They invest in the repeatable discipline that created them.
Lean 6σ gives you the blueprint to craft a story that is not just impressive but irrefutable.
Ready to tell your Story Better?
If you are an organisation, team, or ambitious individual ready to turn results into a story of repeatable success, I can help. Whether through structured support, mentoring, or Lean 6σ project design, let’s craft the narrative that truly reflects your value.
Drop me a line for a non-obligatory conversation on how we can optimise your success story; together!