Why They Fail! Podcast, Episode #1
Welcome to the very first episode of “WTF!” – Why They Fail! Join host Kevin Clay, a seasoned Master Black Belt and President of Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc., as he pulls back the curtain on the frustrating reality: over 90% of Continuous Improvement (CI) efforts ultimately fail.
Forget motivational fluff. This podcast dives headfirst into the real, unfiltered reasons behind these failures, dissecting the short-sighted decisions, leadership missteps, and organizational shortcomings that sabotage even the most well-intentioned initiatives. Based on insights from Kevin’s book, “Why They Fail,” this introductory episode sets the stage by exploring:
✅ Why “common sense isn’t common” in the world of CI.
✅ Examples of failures rooted in leadership agendas and a lack of fundamental understanding.
✅ The dangers of the “quick fix” mentality and the lack of stomach for necessary sacrifice.
✅ A look ahead at future episodes dissecting specific pitfalls like “Fad Diet” CI, the “Paper Belt” phenomenon, the cost of Six Sigma blind spots, and the trap of being “One-Hit Wonders.”
If you’re tired of seeing CI projects fizzle out, expensive training yield no results, and leadership not truly walking the walk, you’re in the right place. This episode is a must-listen to understand the core problems and get a glimpse of the keys to building phenomenal, sustainable change. Don’t miss learning how to avoid becoming another statistic!
Find links in the show notes for a FREE copy of Kevin’s book “Why They Fail” and to learn more about Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc.’s training options.
Tune in, buckle up, and let’s get real about why they fail, so you can learn how to succeed!
Why They Fail, Key Takeaways
➡️ A vast majority of continuous improvement efforts fail or are abandoned quickly.
➡️ Ignoring common sense and basic logic is a major factor in CI failure.
➡️ Leadership agendas, rather than data, often drive project selection, which is a sign of impending failure.
➡️ Assigning individuals without the proper experience (like Yellow Belts to Master Black Belt projects or new Green Belts to lead deployments) leads to failure.
➡️ Many organizations look for a “quick fix” and lack the discipline for long-term sustainability in their CI efforts.
➡️ Building a solid foundation is crucial for a sustainable continuous improvement culture, rather than just adopting methodologies superficially.
A Word from our Sponsor
This episode of “Why They Fail” is brought to you by Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc., providing “Operational Excellence” Around the Globe!
Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc. offers comprehensive Lean Six Sigma certification training, accredited by the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC) as an Authorized Training Organization. They have transformed over 100 organizations in 52 countries and achieved $100M USD in savings through Lean Six Sigma, certifying over 4000 practitioners. Their partners include Aerojet Rocketdyne, Dropbox, and Mercy Health, among others.
Key Certification Training we provide:
🔗 Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-green-belt/)
🔗 Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-black-belt/)
🔗 Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt (https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-yellow-belt/)
🔗 LEAN Certification (https://sixsigmadsi.com/lean-certification/)
We offer a variety of flexible training options to fit your needs! You can learn at your own pace with our Online Self-Paced, On-Demand courses, including our free Online Lean Six Sigma White Belt. We also offer comprehensive online programs for Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Green Belt, and Black Belt certifications. If you prefer in-person instruction, we can come onsite to your organization or you can join our public training sessions, available live virtually or in person at any of our 52 training centers. Every one of our courses can be delivered either live virtually or live in person, ensuring you get the learning experience that works best for you.
Answering the Question “What is …”:
🔗 What is LEAN? (https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-lean/)
🔗 What Is Six Sigma? (https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-six-sigma/)
🔗 What is a Green Belt? (https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-green-belt/
🔗 What is a Black Belt? (https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-black-belt/)
🔗 What is a Yellow Belt? (https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-yellow-belt/)
For more information, ☎️ contact us: https://sixsigmadsi.com/contact-us/ or call us at 866-922-6566.
WTF Podacast Chapters
[ 0:00] Welcome to Why They Fail
[ 0:34] Host Introduction & Podcast Premise
[ 1:20] Introducing WTF!
[ 2:22] Common Pitfalls & “Common Sense” Failures
[ 2:55] Specific Examples of How CI Fails
[ 3:40] Addressing the Negative Perception
[ 4:19] Preview of Upcoming Episodes
[ 4:47] Episode 2 Preview: Fad Diet CI?
[ 5:55] Episode 3 Preview: The “Paper Belt”
[ 7:57] Episode 4 Preview: The Six Sigma Blind Spot (COO Story)
[ 8:53] Episode 5 Preview: The “One-Hit Wonders”
[10:12] Join Us to Avoid Failure
[10:43] Get the FREE Book & Learn How to Succeed
[11:54] Final Thoughts: Learn or Repeat
[12:21] Outro & Engagement
Why They Fail, Podcast Transcript
Slide 1: Podcast Intro Welcome to ‘Why They Fail,’ the podcast that picks apart the wreckage of continuous improvement efforts! I’m your host, Kevin Clay, a seasoned Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and mentor at Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc. I’m here to tell you the stories of leadership agendas and short-sighted decisions that derail CI projects. We’re not sugarcoating anything in this podcast. Get ready for a raw, unfiltered look at the reasons why so many Continuous Improvement efforts fail. But don’t worry, this is not a doom & gloom podcast … we are also going to show you the insanely simple key to avoiding these pitfalls and building a phenomenal, sustainable CI endeavor. Let’s dive in!
Slide 2: Podcast Body – Introduction Welcome, everyone, to the inaugural episode of WTF, or “Why They Fail.” I’m Kevin Clay, and over the past 25 years as a Master Black Belt and President of Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc., I’ve seen it all … I’ve witnessed the incredible potential of continuous improvement … the energy and enthusiasm that teams bring to the table … and unfortunately, far too often, I’ve seen those efforts crash and burn. Hence the name that you see behind me, WTF! Because honestly, sometimes the reasons for failure leave you saying just that.
Slide 3: Podcast Body – Setting the Stage Today, we’re setting the stage for what this podcast is, and will be all about. We’re diving deep into the scenarios, many of which you’ll find echoed in my book, “Why They Fail.” … These aren’t just theoretical discussions; … these are real-world examples, often painful ones, of leadership missteps and organizational shortcomings that prevent the establishment of a truly sustainable continuous improvement culture.
Slide 4: Podcast Body – Examples of Failure You’ll hear stories of well-intentioned initiatives that fizzle out, of expensive training programs that deliver little to no tangible results, and of leadership that talks the talk but absolutely does not walk the walk.
Slide 5: Podcast Body – “Common Sense is Not Very Common” One phrase you’ll hear me say a lot in this this podcast is, … “common sense is not very common,” especially when it comes to building a sustainable culture of Continuous Improvement. It amazes me how common sense is overlooked, … how basic logic is ignored, … and how seemingly obvious pitfalls are stumbled into repeatedly.
Slide 6: Podcast Body – Leadership Agenda vs. Data In this podcast, you are going to hear stories of How CI projects were identified by leadership agenda from the Ivory Tower and not by data (and by the way, if your leadership is picking CI projects, then you’ve already failed);
Slide 7: Podcast Body – Misassigned Projects … You will hear stories of Yellow Belts being tasked with Master Black Belt projects … (because our leaders do not have any clue how to identify the right projects); … You will hear stories of newly trained Green Belts with little to no experience who were tasked with standing up a CI Deployment … (In my book “Why They Fail”, read the chapter “When you expect the plumber to build the house!” to understand the gravity of this pitfall.)
Slide 8: Podcast Body – Not Doom and Gloom At this point, I bet you are saying “This guy’s really got a really negative view of Continuous Improvement!”, and I could see how you would believe that, … but you couldn’t be further from the truth. … I’m a zealot! … Methodologies like LEAN and Six Sigma are phenomenal tools! … and, when used correctly … can cause amazing transformations in organizations.
Slide 9: Podcast Body – The “Quick Fix” Mentality Unfortunately, most are looking for the “Quick Fix” and don’t have the stomach to endure the short term sacrifice that it takes to achieve long term sustainability. This leads over 90% of Continuous Improvement Efforts resulting in utter failure! WTF!!
Slide 10: Podcast Body – Upcoming Episodes Over the next several episodes, we’re going to delve into specific reasons why these failures occur. I am going to tell you stories of how deployments go off the rails, and I’m going to tell you awesome stories of sustainable deployments (and the sacrifices they had to endure to get there). Interspersed throughout these short monologues, I am going to bring in some charismatic guests who have experienced the dark side of CI … and others who emerged with hard work, into the light.
Slide 11: Podcast Body – Episode 2 Preview: Fad Diet In our next episode, we’ll ask the tough question: “Is Your Continuous Improvement Program Just a Fad Diet for Your Business?” Are you tired of seeing continuous improvement initiatives flame out like another failed New Year’s resolution diet? This episode dives into the harsh reality of superficial implementations that promise quick results but deliver no lasting change. I expose the “quick fix” mentality that dooms over 90% of continuous improvement efforts within 18 months.
Slide 12: Podcast Body – Episode 2 – Continued You’ll learn why simply adopting methodologies like Lean and Six Sigma without building a solid foundation is like buying a treadmill that ends up as a clothes hanger. Discover if your program is just a temporary diet or if it has the potential for sustainable, long-term health for your business.
Slide 13: Podcast Body – Episode 3 Preview: The “Paper Belt” Following that, we’ll tackle the phenomenon of the “Paper Belt” in episode three. Certifications look great on a resume, but do they translate to real-world impact? Episode three uncovers the issue of what I call the “Paper Belt” – individuals with a new shiny title like “Black Belt” that they received after a short online course and a 20 question test (that you can take over and over until you pass), but having no “Boots on the Ground” experience.
Slide 14: Podcast Body – Episode 3 – Continued I’m baffled at how many “Paper Belts” are expected to “save the world” single-handedly when returning to their companies after this type of training. I can’t tell you how many times I have encountered a Black Belt who gives me a befuddled look when I refer to a simple concept like Process Capability. This is not the belts fault, it is un-informed Leadership looking for the “Quick Fix” that puts their people into these situations. I’m going to expose this frustrating reality and show you why a “Paper Belt” is a continuous improvement effort waiting to crash and burn. Want to know if your organization is training “Paper Belts” and setting them up for failure? You don’t want to miss this episode.
Slide 15: Podcast Body – Episode 4 Preview: No-Go Gauges vs. Capability Alright, let’s zero in on Episode 4, because this one… this one still gets under my skin a bit. I’m going to share a story that perfectly encapsulates the kind of fundamental misunderstanding that doesn’t just slow down progress – it slams it into a wall. It came from a COO, someone with a Black Belt title, yet clearly, his background was heavily LEAN-biased, with a critical blind spot when it came to Six Sigma. And he looked me dead in the eye and asked: “Why do we need Capability when we have No-Go Gauges?” … That was a “WTF?!” moment, plain and simple.
Slide 16: Podcast Body – Episode 4 – Continued Here’s a leader, holding a high-level continuous improvement certification, equating the granular, predictive power of process capability metrics like Cpk and Ppk – which tell you how well your process can meet specifications and predict defects – with a simple Go/No-Go gauge, which only tells you if a part is acceptable after it’s already been produced. It’s like saying, “Why do we need a forecast when we have a rearview mirror?”
Slide 17: Podcast Body – Episode 4 – Continued This wasn’t just a lack of technical jargon; it was a complete disconnect on how Six Sigma provides crucial insight into process variation and potential for failure before it happens. This episode is a deep dive into why having practitioners, or even leaders, who only understand half of the Lean Six Sigma equation is incredibly dangerous and a guaranteed path to missed opportunities and continued frustration.
Slide 18: Podcast Body – Episode 4 – Conclusion If you’ve ever wondered what a lack of fundamental understanding truly costs an organization, or how a title doesn’t always equal capability, this episode is a must-listen. We’ll break down exactly why that COO’s statement was so alarming and what it reveals about the shallow roots of many failed CI deployments. Don’t miss learning how to spot this critical gap and ensure your team has the full picture.
Slide 19: Podcast Body – Episode 5 Preview: “One-Hit Wonders” Alright, let’s talk about Episode 5, and a scenario I’ve encountered far too many times – the “One-Hit Wonders.” I see companies make a real investment: they train their employees in Lean Six Sigma, they focus them on a critical project to get certified, and the team delivers results! A genuine win! But here’s the kicker, and the reason they become “One-Hit Wonders”: once that initial certification project is complete, those newly trained, newly capable individuals… aren’t asked to take on another project.
Slide 20: Podcast Body – Episode 5 – Continued The momentum dies. The skills atrophy. The fundamental concept of continuous improvement is completely missed. It’s incredibly frustrating to witness, because they’ve done the hard work of training, but they stop just short of unlocking the real, ongoing benefits of a continuous improvement culture. They treat Lean Six Sigma like a one-off training event, not the pathway to embedding problem-solving into the company’s DNA.
Slide 21: Podcast Body – Episode 5 – Conclusion If your organization has trained Green or Black Belts whose skills aren’t being consistently utilized, or if you’ve had successful projects that didn’t spark a wave of further improvements, you are likely living the “One-Hit Wonder” story. Don’t let your investment gather dust – find out how to keep the continuous in continuous improvement.
Slide 22: Podcast Body – Call to Action (Podcast) So, buckle up. If you’re tired of seeing your continuous improvement efforts stall, if you’re frustrated by the lack of real, lasting change, then you’re in the right place. We’re going to get real, we’re going to be honest, and we’re going to provide you with the insights you need to avoid the common traps and build a culture of continuous improvement that actually delivers results.
Slide 23: Podcast Body – AD Message {AD Message} Alright, before we wrap up today’s deep dive into failure, let’s talk about turning things around. You’ve heard some hard truths about ‘Why They Fail’… now, how about learning ‘How Not To Fail’?
Slide 24: Podcast Body – Book Promotion My book, ‘Why They Fail,’ is packed with even more real-world insights and the proven strategies to build a truly sustainable continuous improvement culture. And I want to give you a copy… for FREE! Just click the link right there in the show notes.
Slide 25: Podcast Body – Six Sigma Development Solutions Promotion You will find another link that is your gateway to discovering more about how Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc. can help you avoid the pitfalls we discuss. Want to go deeper? We offer public Green Belt and Black Belt training at 52 locations worldwide, plus virtual options, so you can train wherever you are. We can even bring customized, onsite training directly to your organization.
Slide 26: Podcast Body – Online Training and Contact Prefer to learn at your own pace? We’ve got robust online certification training too. Don’t wait for your CI efforts to become another statistic. Click the link in the show notes, or if you want to talk it through, call us directly at 866-922-6566. That’s 866-922-6566. Get your free book and start building success today!
Slide 27: Podcast Outro – Final Question So, Let me ask you an important question … are you going to learn from these failures … or will you repeat them?
Slide 28: Podcast Outro – Closing Remarks Remember, ignorance isn’t bliss … it’s expensive. I’m Kevin Clay, reminding you that real change, … change that is sustainable, isn’t comfortable, it takes time and discipline, … it takes sacrifice, … but, the transformation will be phenomenal!
Slide 29: Podcast Outro – Thank You “Thank you for listening to “Why they Fail!” We’re on a mission to uncover ‘Why They Fail’ so you can succeed.
Slide 30: Podcast Outro – Call to Action (Subscribe/Follow) If you’re finding clarity and practical takeaways from this podcast, here’s how you can help us reach more people: Subscribe to our YouTube channel – it’s a completely free way to support what we do. Also, make sure you’re following the podcast on both Spotify and Apple so you get every new episode instantly.
Slide 31: Podcast Outro – Call to Action (Review/Engage) Your voice matters! Leave us a five-star review and share your “aha!” experiences … or just give us your questions in the comments on Spotify or Apple.”
Resouces from this Episode
😀FREE Copy of “Why They Fail, Why Over 90% of Continuous Improvement Efforts Fail Within 18 Months … and the Simple Key To Success”: https://sixsigmadsi.com/product/why-they-fail-free-copy/.
