Use the LEGO® Serious Play® process in Webinars 

LEGO® Serious Play® is a powerful methodology to ensure that teams talk in an authentic way about intangible ideas, opinions and strategies. The methodology was initially designed for in-person sessions and in this world of virtual meetings and discussion forums, the question is: 

Can the LEGO® Serious Play® process be applied in a virtual format where participants are on their own and entering a session on a Zoom/Google Meet/Microsoft Teams platform? 

The answer is both Yes and No. 

Yes, in the sense that basic sessions can most certainly be designed and facilitated. 

No, in the sense that we would suggest avoiding sessions that are overly complicated or where there is a requirement for models that are formed into landscapes or some form of group or shared model. 

8 guidelines to ensure that your virtual session using the LEGO® Serious Play® methodology is successful: 

1. Overcome the challenge of ensuring that participants work remotely have access to a set of bricks. This might sound easier said than done as there could be logistics challenges involved and there needs to be early planning. 

2. Ensure that you have your own technical side set up correctly. Think of the following – 

• You absolutely need 2 screens, strong internet and good lighting for when your camera is on. 
• A headset to cut out external noise would be excellent and also assist with clarity in terms of your instructions. 
• We recommend having your phone on hand as participants might text images of their models to you to load up onto the screen. 
• We would recommend that you have someone to assist you if possible with a back-up plan if the internet goes down or if there are other glitches. 

3. Sign up to a platform such as Mural or Miro

• These collaboration style whiteboards are an essential part of a virtual session using the LEGO Serious Play methodology. They are a way for the participants place images of their models that they can manipulate as they form collective stories.  
• The participants are also able to add post-it notes to the images to provide further explanations about their models.  This will lead to effective communication between all participants.  100% of the people participate actively in the discussions. 

4. We strongly suggest that you use a slide deck for your session. Participants who are visual learners might find it easier if they can see the instructions that you give them in terms of what you want them to build. This isn’t the time for just auditory explanations and instructions. 

5. Keep the session constructed as simply as possible. No overly complicated challenge questions. The start-off remains ‘Build the Tower’ and allow time for the participants to build their models on their own.  

• You cannot skip any steps simply because the session is virtual. The process remains as you would facilitate in an in-person session. 

6. There isn’t the same ‘vibe’ or atmosphere as in a face to face session, so you could add in some light music in the background whilst people are building.  

• Start the session off on a really strong and positive note to set the tone and ensure that you include everyone.  
• Welcome them by name and say their names more frequently than you would if they were in the room with you 

7. You also won’t be able to read the room temperature as well as you could in a physical room. Therefore, it’s important to consider: 

• Check in a bit more frequently with participants to ensure that they are in flow. Ask everyone how they are tracking and if they are all okay with how things are moving along. 
• You can privately message people as well if you see that they aren’t actively participating in the discussion. 
• Ensure that people leave their cameras on as this also creates more of a similarity with an in-person session. 

8. We don’t suggest designing a session that goes for longer than 90 minutes. If you would like to continue for longer, give a long break in-between sessions as the online environment is definitely more tiring than being in person.   

It is nonetheless a powerful tool for adopting a hands-on approach to creative thinking, team development and improved business performance. 

Bonus tip for a successful session: 

The individual model building should proceed as it would in an in-person session. The challenges arise when you would like to form a collective or shared or landscaped model that includes all the individual models.  

We do not recommend re-creating these models yourself – everyone needs to own their creation as a representation of their thoughts, ideas and points of view. 

Rather allow them to take photos of their models and place them up onto the digital whiteboard. 

Finally – practice more than you would normally before a face to face session. It does work out in the end, so remember to ‘trust the process’! 

How can you be accredited as a facilitator in the LEGO® Serious Play® method? 

Gain the skills you need online!  Yes, it is possible to learn the fundamentals of the process through the Play4Business facilitator training program. 

We have 2 options for you: 

Learn in a self-paced online learning portal OR join us for LIVE virtual classes. 

Follow this link for more information and become part of our global community of facilitators, trainers, consultants and coaches who use the LEGO® Serious Play® method. 

You can join our facilitator training program at any time and learn the skills you need over a full year.  This is a powerful approach as you can come back into the program as many times as you need to in order to build your confidence.