Unlocking Innovation with the LEGO® Serious Play® Method: A Guide for Consultants, Trainers, and Academics
We all value how vital creativity and innovation are in our complex, ever-changing business environment. The LEGO® Serious Play® Method is perfect tool to bring positive change in the work environment.
One of the most effective and engaging methods for unlocking innovation is the LEGO® Serious Play® method. This dynamic, hands-on approach offers a unique opportunity for consultants, trainers, and academics to facilitate problem-solving, communication, and collaboration.
It’s also all about driving improvement in business performance through this powerful experiential process.
Let’s explore the principles behind the LEGO® Serious Play® process and how you can integrate this powerful methodology into your work.
What are the Core Principles of the LEGO® Serious Play® method?
- Everyone has a voice:
- The method is designed to promote equal participation.
- This ensures that everyone in a group has an opportunity to contribute their ideas and perspectives.
- This inclusive approach helps foster a sense of belonging and encourages open dialogue.
- The power of metaphor:
The use of LEGO® bricks allows participants to express complex ideas and emotions through metaphorical representations. This in turn enables a deeper level of understanding and communication.
- The wisdom of hands:
The LEGO® Serious Play® process taps into our innate ability to learn and think through tactile experiences. We engage both the mind and body in the creative process.
- Learning through play:
The playful nature of the LEGO® Serious Play® process encourages experimentation, iteration, and a willingness to take risks, leading to innovative solutions and breakthrough thinking.
Integrating LEGO® Serious Play® into Your Work
To effectively implement the LEGO® Serious Play® method in your consulting, training, or academic work, consider the following steps:
- Get trained and certified:
Participate in a LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator training program to gain a deep understanding of the methodology, its applications, and best practices.
- Customize your approach:
Adapt the LEGO® Serious Play® process to the specific needs and goals of your clients, trainees, or students, ensuring that the methodology aligns with their unique objectives and challenges.
- Create a safe and supportive environment:
Encourage open dialogue, active listening and a non-judgmental atmosphere that fosters creativity, collaboration, and learning.
- Evaluate and iterate:
Regularly assess the effectiveness of your LEGO® Serious Play® sessions, events and refine your approach based on feedback and outcomes.
- Implement the key elements of effective facilitation for events:
- Provide clear instructions and guidelines for each challenge question so that all participants give meaning to their models.
- Bring out the best in everyone as they use metaphors to gain key insights.
- Encourage equal participation and ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to contribute as they use their bricks and 3D models as part of the story-telling process.
- Ask participants open-ended questions to stimulate reflection, discussion and learning all the way through the process.
- Create a psychologically safe environment that fosters experimentation, risk-taking and creative thinking.
- Debrief each challenge question well to extract insights, lessons and takeaways.
6. Learn how to adapt the LEGO® Serious Play® process for remote settings.
As you are trained in using this facilitated process, you learn how to implement digital tools and platforms that allow participants to build, share, and discuss their LEGO® brick models virtually.
Learn how Virtual whiteboards, like Miro or Mural can be used as part of the facilitation process for collaborative brainstorming, note-taking, and model documentation.
- You’ll also learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of the workshop – were there any major ‘aha’ moments?
Were there any breakthroughs in thinking? What shifts were there in behavior?
- You develop an understanding of the power of metaphors and how they can be used to uncover new insights and perspectives.
Understand how to actively document your workshop activities.
- You will also become aware of the science and research that sits at the foundation of the process.
You gain strategies for incorporating feedback loops into workshops – allowing participants a chance to reflect on their 3D models and their stories.
Benefits of using the LEGO® Serious Play® Method in your Practice
There is a long list of benefits for you in terms of introducing the process into the way in which you approach a whole range of business issues:
- Enhanced creativity and innovation:
By engaging participants in a hands-on, immersive experience, LEGO® Serious Play® stimulates creative thinking, problem-solving, and idea generation.
- Improved communication:
The methodology helps break down communication barriers, fostering trust and openness among team members.
- Stronger team dynamics:
Through collaborative building and storytelling, LEGO® Serious Play® promotes empathy, understanding, and improved working relationships.
- Accelerated learning:
The process of constructing and deconstructing models allows participants to quickly test ideas, iterate, and learn from their experiences.
All in all, LEGO® Serious Play® is a powerful tool for unlocking innovation, improving communication, and fostering collaboration among consultants, trainers, and academics.
By understanding the core principles and benefits of this methodology and integrating it into your practice, you create an engaging and effective learning experience that drives meaningful change and lasting results.
So, what are you waiting for! It’s time to gain your certification as a facilitator of theLEGO® Serious Play® method!
At Play4Business we strongly believe that you can learn how to use the methodology online.
- Our course modules are detailed so you gain a full understanding of the process.
- You also have other advantages in terms of seeing videos of sessions in action and participating in Q and A sessions.
- We provide you with 6 session plans to get you started on the right foot.
More information about your training options:
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