Lego Serious Play

What is Lego Serious Play?

Lego Serious Play is a facilitated meeting, problem solving, ideas generating and communication method. Using Lego block building to build models in response to a series of questions designed to go deeper into the subject of the meeting or workshop.

By responding to the facilitator’s questions, participants can build models, shared models and system models that serve as a way to knowledge and allows ideas to emerge, discussions to take place, decisions to be made and consensus to occur.

When can Lego Serious Play be useful?

Lego Serious Play is useful in many circumstances, such as:

• When there is a complex, multi-faceted problem without a clear answer
• There is a need to think bigger picture in order to see connections. Especially connections that may not be apparent at first. We can also explore options and emerging solutions
• It is important to hear every person’s contribution and mine all participants’ knowledge and opinions
• A need to foster a true spirit of collaboration exists
• To avoid a few dominant voices and level the playing field to get to 100/100 meetings
• When a solution that everyone in the room is required to commit to is needed
• You wish to find clarity and a shared understanding
• There is a need to avoid sidelining members of the team by involving 100% of the team in the decision process

There are so many ways this method can be useful to your organisation and we can create bespoke workshops tailored to your needs.

Why is Lego Serious Play so effective?

LSP Offers A Shared Language

Using Lego to create metaphors allows us to adopt a shared language that does not require any particular skill level or education. This gives us access to every participant’s knowledge and insights.

Starting with the individual model and working out means each participant takes an active role in the process. This means they have a personal stake in it from the starting point, and this helps promote buy-in.

Using the bricks encourages the use of metaphor and stories, which will aid understanding and communication. This leads to fewer misunderstandings, which in turn aids success.

Working in 3D allows more concrete ideas to form before participants share knowledge.

Meeting using this method is less prone to moving off-topic, because the focus is on the models and bricks.

When discussing, participants are encouraged to address the models and bricks. This action helps the meeting stay clear of conflict between participants’ personalities.

Who uses Lego Serious Play?

Many organisations across the world use Lego Serious Play. When our founder was trained, another delegate at the training session was from the United Nations, and one was from a soccer initiative to help young people in Ghana.

The following organisations have also used the method:

• Airbus
• Fujitsu
• Toyota
• Coca-Cola
• Fedex
• Google
• Mastercard
• Microsoft
• Nasa
• Nissan
• Pfizer
• Proctor & Gamble
• Target
• Telia Telco
• Unilever
• Waitrose
• World Bank Group
• Harvard Universityf
• MIT
• Cambridge University
• Oxford University
• EU
• UNESCO
• UNDP
• Denmark’s Government
• UK Government

Book a discovery call today to tell us about the challenges you are facing as we may be able to help.