The Process Excellence Leader is expected to move teams forward, influence others, and improve overall business results by selecting the right tools to use at the right time. In order to do this, a PE leader needs effective and efficient management and leadership skills. According to Marshall Moore, Executive VP at Chemtura, “it’s a lot easier to lead people when they are direct reports.” Often, a Process Excellence Leader has no direct reports but is challenged with moving people towards a common goal. It sounds simple but often the people, especially process owners, have other priorities, like filling customer orders, meeting production goals, or meeting payroll deadlines. An effective Process Excellence Leader also has the courage and knowledge to stop a project if it is not an appropriate project.

When we talk about leadership “skills” or “traits”, we assume that the leader is already a fantastic, effective communicator. Communication skills are critical to being an effective leader! When Larry Bossidy, past CEO of AlliedSignal, walked into a room, he had presence. People stopped what they were doing and listened. Some people stopped to listen because he was the CEO, but most people listened because he was fascinating. He was always dressed impeccably, he stood tall, made eye contact with everyone in the audience and spoke with confidence. I never saw him use power point. He didn’t need it. He knew his stuff and the audience knew that he knew, he was able to answer every questions that the audience threw at him. Was Mr. Bossidy born with these powerful communication skills and style or did he develop them? My guess is that he spent years developing his communication skills. The skill development paid off for him as he advanced in his career moving up the ladder at GE and then leading AlliedSignal. Bob Wood, CEO of Chemtura, is an equally impressive communicator with a different style. He is more relaxed and seems more approachable. He seems relaxed and dead serious at the same time. He communicates clear, concise messages with passion. His passion comes from Chemtura’s vision of being the world’s best specialty chemical company.

Communication is defined as creating understanding. There are two parts to effective communication; sending a message and receiving the message. Sending a message can be accomplished in a variety of ways:

• Speaking – formal or informal, large group or
• Writing – memo, email, report, book, etc.
• Sign language

• Active listening which is listening for
• Reading
• Watching