After a 55-foot fall left him paralyzed from the waist down, CSC Vice President and CSC-Wide Six Sigma Program Lead Rob Bryant developed a new perspective on life, setting and accomplishing amazing goals – both personal and professional.  At CSC, Rob is working with other team members around the world to drive a Human Sigma initiative.  Learn more about this management approach and how it can help shape CSC’s future.

Why have you enjoyed working at CSC?
This is my sixth year at CSC and when it comes to what I have enjoyed most about my CSC career, a few things come to mind.  I like the way our teams are high energy and rally around how to best meet customer requirements.  Also, it’s especially important to me that CSC’s culture provides us the freedom to suggest new solutions and our company has avenues to turn those ideas into reality.  I’ve really enjoyed working on new process improvement initiatives and replicating them across CSC and leading Lean/Six Sigma.  I also appreciate the virtual nature of my job, which has enabled me to develop a healthy work/life balance.  Finally, I’ve had the opportunity to be a motivational speaker at many internal and external events.  It’s something that I’m passionate about and I hope I can continue to help make an impact on people’s lives.

Can you share a defining moment in your career and how it changed your perspective?
In 1982, I fell 55 feet from an oil rig during a routine procedure, which caused permanent paralysis from the waist down.  But, I decided to concentrate on the things I could do and not to worry about the things I could no longer do.  I decided to accomplish new goals by: envisioning the steps, counting the cost, paying the price and never giving up on my dreams.  This led me to walk 24 miles with braces and crutches, row 3,280 miles across America (Guinness World Record), become a vice president with CSC and most importantly, be the best husband and father I could be.  I fail all the time, but still accomplish more than someone afraid to try.

What is Human Sigma and how does it help position CSC for the future?
Human Sigma is measuring and improving client and employee engagement in such a way it increases customer and employee loyalty and profits.  The approach focuses on taking disciplined, sustainable measures to better manage, recruit and reward employees.  In turn, this effort enhances customer-employee engagement, which ultimately can lead to increased overall financial performance.  Human Sigma is directly aligned with CSC’s new culture of being more purposeful, proactive and collaborative.

What do you think makes a good manager?
I believe a good manager is a leader who is not afraid to make tough, ethical decisions during difficult times.  They stand up for what is right, even if it’s not the most popular belief. Good managers can motivate their subordinates and their peers, into achieving more than they would have otherwise. 

How can employees continue to improve their management skills at CSC?
I encourage employees to take training in Lean/Six Sigma and Performance Management.  Also, finding a mentor, whether internal to CSC or someone in your external network, can help you define your career objectives and how to meet them.  Finally, I think it’s important to remember that one person is capable of achieving many things, but you can do even more by forming teams to make what seems impossible, possible.