Top 5 Benefits of Using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® in Corporate Workshops

Explore how LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® revolutionises corporate workshops by enhancing participation, communication, and creativity among teams.

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) is a hands-on method transforming corporate workshops by fostering participation, simplifying complex ideas, and improving team communication. Here’s why it works:

Engages Everyone: Ensures 100% participation, breaking down workplace hierarchies.
Simplifies Complexity: Turns abstract ideas into tangible models for better understanding.
Boosts Communication: Encourages storytelling and metaphorical thinking for clearer dialogue.
Fosters Collaboration: Builds trust and consensus faster than traditional methods.
Enhances Learning: Active, hands-on practice leads to deeper understanding and retention.

Whether tackling strategy, team dynamics, or problem-solving, LSP is a structured, inclusive approach to achieving meaningful results.

#4 Unlocking Creativity with LEGO Serious Play

LEGO Serious Play

1. Build Solutions with Physical Models

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) takes abstract ideas and turns them into something you can see and touch, using physical model-building to spark creativity and teamwork. This hands-on approach helps teams connect faster and communicate better, paving the way for fresh ideas and problem-solving during workshops.

In these sessions, participants tackle business challenges by building physical models. This process helps them overcome mental barriers that can block productive discussions. And it’s not just theory - research backs it up.

For instance, a 2008 UK study involving Civil Engineering students showed that teams using this method improved their sense of responsibility, collaboration, and ability to manage risks.

What sets LSP apart is its ability to engage everyone in the room. Unlike traditional meetings, where only 20–30% of attendees actively participate, LSP ensures that everyone contributes. It’s no wonder over 250 companies across 27 countries have adopted this technique.

Building physical models offers several important benefits:

Simplifies Complexity: It makes relationships and connections more understandable by turning them into something you can see.
Encourages Quick Prototyping: Teams can immediately test and refine potential solutions.
Creates Lasting Visual Cues: The 3D models serve as memory aids, helping teams recall key insights.

"The elegant simplicity of Lego Serious Play represents the type of visual collaboration tools necessary to help leadership teams to explore and communicate vital ideas in our increasingly complex and competitive world." - Sean Young, Entrepreneur of the Year, Top 40 Under 40

By engaging directly with LEGO® bricks, participants unlock their creativity to express, build, and challenge ideas. This hands-on method fosters a deeper understanding of what’s possible within an organisation, making it especially useful for teams facing complex strategic decisions.

Moreover, these physical models cut through jargon by creating a shared visual language. This common ground ensures everyone can understand and contribute, strengthening the inclusive atmosphere established from the very start.

2. Level the Playing Field for All Participants

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) breaks down workplace hierarchies, making sure every voice gets a chance to be heard. Unlike traditional meetings, where dominant personalities can overshadow quieter colleagues, LSP ensures 100% participation from everyone in the room.

During the process, when someone presents their model, they are regarded as the expert. Others are required to listen attentively without interrupting or interpreting. This approach empowers reserved team members to share their thoughts, boosting their confidence and encouraging more open collaboration.

This method brings clear advantages:

Dedicated Speaking Time: Everyone gets their moment to present their model without interruptions.
Tangible Visual Aid: The physical model acts as a helpful point of reference, giving presenters more confidence.
Equal Input: Every idea, no matter how small, is incorporated into the final outcome.

According to Associate Professor Sean McCusker from Northumbria University, this approach can build trust and reach consensus up to three times faster than traditional methods. He explains that LSP fosters "a discussion in which everyone's ideas are heard and equally valued".

"The LSP models each person builds creates a common language that can be seen, questioned and understood without challenging the model builder."
– Donna Denio, Team Dynamics Boston

3. Improve Team Communication Skills

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® offers a fresh way to transform team communication by using a 3D thinking process that helps break down traditional barriers. This hands-on approach encourages teams to move beyond working in isolated silos and instead engage as a connected group that communicates openly and imaginatively. It’s a method that has proven effective in fostering collaboration within corporate settings.

The process of building physical models helps participants drop their defences and share ideas through storytelling. For example, at the ASOS Tech Office, team members built individual models to represent their roles and responsibilities. These personal creations then sparked discussions that led to a shared model, giving the team a clearer understanding of how their roles fit within the business.

This method strengthens communication through three main mechanisms:

Metaphorical Expression: LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® models allow participants to represent complex ideas in a simplified, metaphorical way.
Multi-Modal Learning: The hands-on nature of building activates different parts of the brain, leading to deeper engagement and better retention of ideas.
Story-Based Sharing: Using models to tell stories shifts the focus from rigid positions to personal experiences, creating a space for honest and meaningful dialogue.

"When we build with our hands, our brains are activated. When we take an experimental approach, our growth mindset is activated. Together this process of thinking and experimenting with our hands breaks down walls and complacency, increasing our insights, ideas, and willingness to challenge ourselves and the status quo." - helm365.co

This approach is particularly effective in agile environments. For instance, in scrum team workshops, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® has been used to co-create shared visions for high-performing teams. These sessions often result in tangible working agreements and improved team dynamics.

4. Make Complex Ideas Simple Through Models

Taking collaboration and communication to the next level, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®offers a hands-on way to simplify complex concepts. By turning abstract ideas into physical models, it creates a shared language that teams can easily grasp and discuss. With just eight LEGO bricks capable of being combined in 102 million different ways, the possibilities for representing intricate ideas are nearly endless. This tangible approach provides a practical foundation for tackling challenges in a variety of contexts.

This isn’t just theory - it works in practice too. Back in 2014, an Australian professional services firm used LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® to tackle communication issues caused by the departure of several middle managers. During a workshop facilitated by Pivotal Play, team members built models to represent their current organisational dynamics and their ideal future state. These visual representations helped the team pinpoint challenges, co-develop solutions, and strengthen mentoring, knowledge sharing, and open communication.

Why do physical models work so well? They:

Provide a visual framework to organise and capture insights
Turn abstract relationships into something concrete and visible
Encourage participants to "think with their hands"

Another example comes from an agile software company. In a workshop with 12 developers, participants first built individual models to express their perspectives. These were then combined into a shared model, which helped the team explore different decision-making outcomes and establish practical principles for daily operations.

The beauty of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® lies in its efficiency - it can help teams reach understanding and agreement two to three times faster than traditional methods. By using metaphors during the building process, participants often uncover fresh insights and perspectives.

This visual approach is particularly useful when teams need to:

Simplify Complex Processes: Break down intricate workflows into clear, physical models.
Understand System Interactions: Show how different components influence one another.
Experiment with Scenarios: Simulate potential outcomes and explore solutions.
Create Shared Understanding: Build a collective vision of challenges and opportunities.

For the best results, teams need a clear challenge to address and sufficient time to construct their LEGO models.

5. Learn Better Through Hands-on Practice

Building on the earlier discussion of how physical models simplify complex ideas, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® takes corporate learning to a new level by offering an immersive, hands-on experience. This method engages multiple senses, allowing participants to interact with concepts in a way that makes abstract ideas both tangible and memorable. The idea is simple yet powerful: participants "think with their hands" by creating models that reflect their thoughts and experiences. This unique approach not only clarifies ideas but also reinforces them through active participation.

What makes this method so effective? It’s all about how it engages participants:

Active Participation: By physically constructing models, participants stay fully engaged throughout the session.
Real-time Application: Concepts are tested and refined on the spot, with immediate feedback in a safe, controlled setting.
Broader Perspectives: Building models encourages participants to explore ideas that challenge implicit biases and foster new ways of thinking.

"Lego Serious Play, a three-dimensional thinking and communication process, helps teams gel. You take a group of individual 'people silos' and weave them into a cohesive team." – Donna Denio, Team Dynamics Boston

"Draws on the imagination, integrates cognitive, social and emotional dimensions of experience and intentionally brings the emergent benefits of play to bear on organizational challenges." – Roos et al.

One of the standout features of this approach is how it creates a shared language. When participants build and share their models, communication barriers dissolve, and mutual understanding deepens. This process helps clarify individual thoughts while strengthening team dynamics.

For facilitators, there are a few key practices that can maximise the impact of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®:

Give participants enough time to build their models and reflect on them.
Encourage detailed explanations of the models to uncover deeper insights.
Foster an environment where experimentation and creativity are welcomed.
Emphasise the process and learning over the visual perfection of the models.

This hands-on method is especially useful for tackling complex skills or navigating organisational changes. By grounding abstract ideas in something concrete, it keeps participants engaged and ensures that the learning sticks.

Conclusion

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® offers a hands-on, engaging way to fast-track team development and tackle challenges effectively. Research shows it can help teams build trust and reach consensus up to three times faster than more traditional methods.

Here’s how to get started with LSP:

Understand the basics: Familiarise yourself with the core principles of the methodology.
Get the right tools: Invest in professional LEGO® workshop kits designed for LSP.
Work with experts: Collaborate with certified LSP facilitators to guide the process.

When thoughtfully implemented, LSP can transform how teams work together. It promotes psychological safety, encourages collaboration, and sparks creative problem-solving. This approach allows teams to:

Address complex problems with a shared perspective.
Foster lasting changes in how they collaborate.
Build deeper, more resilient connections.

Whether you're focusing on improving team dynamics, planning strategy, or driving innovation, LSP provides a structured framework for achieving meaningful results. By incorporating this method into workshops, organisations can not only simplify problem-solving but also nurture a culture of collaboration and forward-thinking leadership.

FAQs

How does LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® help ensure everyone in a workshop feels engaged and heard?

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® encourages participation from everyone by having each individual build models to represent their ideas and thoughts. This interactive, hands-on method ensures that every voice is heard, regardless of job title or seniority.

When participants share and explain their creations, it provides an equal platform for expressing perspectives. This process not only boosts engagement but also highlights a variety of viewpoints, promoting collaboration and sparking fresh ideas.

What kinds of workplace challenges can be addressed using the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methodology?

The LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methodology shines when dealing with complex organisational challenges that demand fresh ideas and teamwork. It's particularly useful in scenarios where teams need to brainstorm innovative solutions, align their objectives, or adapt to changes within the organisation.

This hands-on approach is excellent for boosting team collaboration, sparking creative thinking, and tackling areas like strategy development, resolving conflicts, or enhancing leadership skills. By involving participants in imaginative, interactive exercises, it opens the door to new ideas and fosters open dialogue, making it a versatile tool for various corporate needs.

How can organisations evaluate the impact of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshops on team collaboration and communication?

Organisations can measure the success of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshops through a mix of practical evaluation techniques. For instance, conducting pre- and post-workshop surveys can reveal shifts in team dynamics, while facilitated debrief sessions provide an opportunity to discuss key learnings. Follow-up interviews, on the other hand, can shed light on how participants are applying the insights gained to their day-to-day roles.

Observing team behaviour during the workshop also offers useful insights, as does analysing measurable outcomes like smoother project workflows or better communication. By blending qualitative observations with hard data, organisations can clearly assess how well the workshop has contributed to improving collaboration and sparking new ideas.