If you are an entrepreneur, a CEO, or a Senior Manager, you cannot fail to know and be intrigued by this extraordinary methodology that in recent years has entered, with different purposes, into the offices of companies all over the world, a methodology that uses LEGO® bricks to “do business”.

What is LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and what is it for?

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is a facilitation methodology that uses LEGO® bricks as a tool to foster thought and idea processing, communication, problem solving in business and organisational contexts, and the creation of shared strategies and visions.

The aim of a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshop is to unite all participants in reflection, allowing each member to express their ideas and insights and be involved in the decision-making and strategic process.

The construction of three-dimensional models with LEGO® bricks stimulates creativity, individual expression, collaboration and sharing between people; it also facilitates decision-making and enables the creation of a shared vision that gives direction to the group, the projects and the company.

What is the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® process?

The process of a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshop is structured to encourage the exploration of ideas and their sharing in a strategic and functional way, for the growth of the group and the projects.

During the workshop, participants are presented with a series of questions, also called challenges, to which they respond with a LEGO® model; models are created individually and can be abstract or concrete. Each participant shares the meaning of their model by describing and illustrating its story to the others with metaphors and symbols. The sharing phase in a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshop is crucial as it allows a deep understanding of each person’s ideas and perspectives. Participants explore other group members’ models and can ask questions; this process encourages dialogue and collaboration between participants.

Through the process of building and sharing, details, new insights, perspectives, and solutions emerge. These would not be accessible without the models, as such information would remain lodged between the lines of the formulator’s thoughts.

To conclude, participants receive a final task that usually represents a shared scenario, i.e. the representation of a shared vision or solution for a specific project. Together, participants reflect and make concrete decisions for the future.

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is a valuable tool for creating strategy

The LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method is widely used in various business contexts, such as meetings, team-building workshops, strategy sessions and product development. Its effectiveness stems from its practical, engaging, and inclusive nature, which allows all participants to contribute in a meaningful and creative way.

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is also a valuable tool to develop strategies; in fact, it is an innovative and engaging way to engage team members to develop a shared strategic vision.

A LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshop dedicated to strategy development usually sets a strategic goal that you want to achieve. For example, it could be defining a new corporate vision, identifying new markets, marketing strategy and plan, or improving operational capabilities.

Challenges or questions are posed to the participants to investigate aspects of the strategic objective, e.g. models could represent the current market, challenges, resources, opportunities, competitors, strengths, or any other elements relevant to the strategy.

Desirable or possible future scenarios in relation to the strategic objective are also explored. This activity encourages creative thinking and stimulates the imagination to explore different options and possible ways forward for the company.

During the different sharing phases, participants discuss together the possible implications, opportunities and challenges related to the different scenarios. The goal is to identify strengths, gaps, and the best way forward.

At the conclusion of the workshop, the team identifies concrete actions and strategic plans that can be implemented to realise the strategic objective, this may also include assigning responsibilities, setting deadlines and monitoring performance.

Why is a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshop effective?

A LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshop is an effective and problem-solving methodology and is a valuable investment for a company looking for concrete solutions. The strengths of a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshop are:

Active participation: each participant represents their own ideas, opinions, and concepts.

Systemic thinking: LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® allows exploring problems and challenges from different perspectives, as through models and their narratives participants can visualise and understand the complex relationships between different variables.

Metaphor and storytelling: Models are visual metaphors for ideas and situations to be addressed and solved. Through storytelling associated with models, participants can explore and communicate complex and nuanced concepts more effectively.

Collaboration and communication: LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® encourages collaboration and communication, as each participant expresses his or her own ideas, fostering exchange and creating an inclusive environment in which all participants feel involved and valued.

Experiential learning: Through the hands-on approach of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, participants learn by doing. This type of experiential learning is much more engaging and leads to a broader and deeper exploration of concepts.

Lateral thinking: LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® encourages participants to think unconventionally and find creative solutions to problems. LEGO® bricks offer a wide range of possibilities and allow participants to go beyond the limits of the rational mind.

Overall, a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshop is effective because it combines elements of play, creativity, collaboration and systemic thinking to tackle complex problems in an innovative and engaging way and is also a participatory and interactive process.

If you want to learn more about this topic, contact us and we will be happy to meet with you to develop a winning project for your company or team.