LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Explained: A Powerful Tool for Creative Problem Solving

LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP) is a hands-on method that helps teams solve problems, improve leadership, and enhance collaboration using LEGO® bricks. It turns meetings into interactive sessions where participants build models to represent ideas, challenges, and solutions. Here's what you need to know:

• What it does: Encourages equal participation, builds trust, and improves communication.
• How it works: Teams create LEGO® models to visualise ideas, discuss them, and develop actionable solutions.
• Why it matters: It combines creativity with structured problem-solving to align teams and address challenges effectively.

Key Benefits:

• Everyone contributes equally.
• Provides a safe space for open expression.
• Speeds up trust and understanding within teams.
• Sparks new ideas and creative solutions.

Quick Start:

1. Get a LEGO® Serious Play® Starter Kit (£21.99) or a larger kit for workshops (£614.99).
2. Use certified facilitators (£1,665 + VAT) to guide sessions.
3. Measure success with surveys and follow-ups to track results.

LEGO® Serious Play® transforms team dynamics by making abstract ideas tangible and fostering collaboration through play.

What happens in a workshop with the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method

The LEGO® Serious Play® Process

LEGO® Serious Play® takes the concept of traditional meetings and flips it on its head, turning them into interactive and engaging sessions. By using LEGO® bricks, teams tap into their collective knowledge and creativity, fostering collaboration in a unique way.

Step 1: Setting the Question

The process begins with crafting a clear, open-ended question. This question acts as a guide, steering participants towards innovative solutions. To be effective, the question should:

• Address a specific challenge or goal.
• Encourage participants to think creatively and explore possibilities.
• Allow for multiple interpretations, sparking diverse ideas.

"The purpose of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is to change 'lean backward meetings' to 'lean forward meetings', where the result is more participation, more insights surfaced, more engagement and, ultimately, more commitment and faster implementations."

Step 2: Making LEGO® Models

Participants then dive into building LEGO® models that represent their thoughts and ideas. This hands-on activity engages both their minds and hands, encouraging deeper reflection and creativity. The process unfolds in three distinct phases:

These models act as visual stories, sparking meaningful conversations and paving the way for actionable insights.

Step 3: Discussion and Results

The LEGO® models become the centrepiece of discussions. They help teams uncover valuable insights and turn them into concrete actions. For example, in 2014, Pivotal Play worked with a Professional Services firm in Australia to reinvigorate team culture following a reduction in middle management. As a result, the team introduced initiatives like enhanced mentoring programmes, better knowledge sharing, and more open communication. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with noticeable improvements in engagement and morale.

The success of this stage relies heavily on the facilitator’s ability to:

• Lead meaningful discussions around the models.
• Help participants identify connections and translate insights into actionable steps.
• Capture key takeaways and outline next steps.

This process thrives when leaders embrace the idea that they don’t have all the answers and actively encourage input from every team member. By doing so, the team collectively arrives at solutions that are both creative and practical.

Using LEGO® Serious Play® in Leadership

Team Vision and Goals

LEGO® Serious Play® helps teams turn abstract ideas into physical models, making it easier to align on shared visions and goals. These models act as a visual representation of strategic direction, helping teams unify their objectives, create actionable plans, and build consensus. By constructing these models, teams can simplify complex concepts, identify potential gaps, and ensure everyone is on the same page.

Once the team has a clear understanding of its objectives, LEGO® Serious Play® also offers tools to address and resolve conflicts that might arise along the way.

Handling Team Disagreements

When disagreements surface, LEGO® Serious Play® provides a structured framework for resolving them. By turning abstract conflicts into tangible solutions, the methodology uses storytelling, metaphors, and hands-on model building to address disputes effectively. Here's how it works:

This approach allows leaders to transform conflict into a chance for growth and collaboration.

Generating New Ideas

LEGO® Serious Play® isn't just about alignment and conflict resolution - it’s also a powerful tool for sparking creativity and driving innovation. By combining playful exploration with structured planning, it enables leaders to push creative boundaries while staying focused on practical outcomes. To get the most out of this process:

• Begin with open-ended questions to spark curiosity
• Use metaphors in model building to explore ideas deeply
• Allow for individual reflection before group discussions
• Turn reflections and insights into actionable steps

With over 15 years of refinement and 20 iterations, this method blends analytical and creative thinking seamlessly. To ensure success, it’s recommended to work with certified facilitators who can guide teams through structured exercises, helping them turn imaginative ideas into workable solutions.

LEGO® Serious Play® in UK Business

UK Leadership Methods

LEGO® Serious Play® brings a fresh dimension to leadership practices in the UK, complementing the country's collaborative and inclusive management style. Its focus on ensuring everyone's voice is heard makes it particularly effective in settings where quieter team members might otherwise hold back their ideas.

The structured framework of LEGO® Serious Play® aligns seamlessly with key aspects of British leadership, as shown below:

This methodology not only supports modern leadership principles but also helps turn creative thinking into actionable strategies. Its practical benefits are increasingly evident in workplaces across the UK.

UK Business Examples

Take the example of a professional services firm that struggled with communication after losing several middle managers. A LEGO® Serious Play® workshop allowed team members to construct models that reflected their work environment. This hands-on process led to several key improvements:

• Stronger mentoring relationships among team members
• Better knowledge-sharing through flexible work practices
• Increased initiative from junior staff
• Clearer communication across all levels of the organisation

For the best results, it’s recommended to work with UK-certified LEGO® Serious Play® facilitators who understand the local business culture and needs.

Next Steps

Main Points

Looking at the impact of LEGO® Serious Play®, here are the key outcomes to keep in mind as you plan your next move:

LEGO® Serious Play® takes leadership development to a new level by turning abstract ideas into physical, visual models. Some of the standout advantages include:

• Greater team involvement and engagement
• Faster problem-solving through visual storytelling
• Better strategic alignment through shared understanding
• Clearer communication of complex ideas

With these benefits in mind, here’s a straightforward three-step guide for bringing LEGO® Serious Play® into your organisation.

Implementation Guide

1. Initial Setup
   Start with the LEGO® Serious Play® Starter Kit, priced at £21.99. For larger workshops, consider the Identity and Landscape Kit (£614.99), which is designed for groups of 10-12 participants.
2. Professional Development
   Invest in certified facilitation training, which costs £1,665.00 + VAT. This training equips you with the skills needed to lead impactful workshops and enhance your leadership abilities.
3. Measuring Success
   Track the effectiveness of your sessions with these methods:

   Measurement	Timing	Focus
   Pre-workshop Survey	Before the session	Gauge team alignment
   Observational Analysis	During the session	Monitor engagement levels
   Follow-up Assessment	1-3 months post-session	Evaluate implementation results

"LSP is a facilitated thinking, communication and problem-solving method for use with groups. It uses LEGO bricks to build stories about the intangible ideas you work with in your business and brings them into the physical world through the use of metaphor and play." – Bulbb

FAQs

How does LEGO® Serious Play® help teams build trust and improve communication?

LEGO® Serious Play® is a powerful tool for teams looking to build trust and improve how they communicate. By using LEGO® bricks in hands-on activities, team members craft models that reflect their thoughts, ideas, or challenges. This creative and tactile method makes it easier for everyone to share their perspectives, even when tackling tricky or sensitive topics.

As participants present their models, they open a window into their personal viewpoints and experiences. This exchange not only deepens understanding but also nurtures empathy and strengthens team bonds. The result? Better collaboration and more effective communication.

How can LEGO® Serious Play® be effectively introduced into an organisation?

To bring LEGO® Serious Play® into your organisation, the first step is to deeply understand the methodology and its guiding principles. This approach is known for encouraging creativity and teamwork to tackle challenges in fresh ways. Investing in formal training to become a certified facilitator is highly recommended, as it equips you with the skills needed to run sessions smoothly and effectively.

After completing your training, stock up on the necessary LEGO® materials and start organising workshops for your team. It’s a good idea to begin with smaller sessions - this helps you build confidence while showcasing the method’s benefits. As you gain experience, share your learnings with the broader community to refine your techniques and maximise the positive impact of this engaging tool within your organisation.

Why should LEGO® Serious Play® sessions be led by certified facilitators?

Using certified facilitators guarantees that LEGO® Serious Play® sessions are run with a high level of professionalism and consistency. These facilitators are specifically trained to ensure the methodology is applied as intended, sticking to its core principles to help participants get the most out of the experience.

Beyond their technical knowledge, certified facilitators excel at working with diverse groups. They know how to encourage collaboration and can tailor the process to meet specific objectives, whether it’s strategic planning or aligning teams. This approach helps create an environment where everyone feels empowered to share ideas and engage meaningfully.

Related posts

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• What Is LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®? Discover the Method That’s Changing Team Workshops
• Top 5 Benefits of Using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® in Corporate Workshops