LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®

INTRODUCTIONIn many gatherings most of the talking (80%) is done by a minority of participants (20%). Participants with good ideas often do not speak, for whatever reason. However “The solution is in the room”, a basic principle of the LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP) methodology. As all participants are involved when using this methodology, most if not all ideas are addressed.

BACKGROUNDLSP has been developed by the LEGO Company, initially to respond to a signifi cant challenge LEGO was facing in the mid 90s. Video-games were entering the market, impacting the LEGO Company. LSP was developed as a tool to defi ne a new strategy by using imagination, being the core business of the LEGO Company..

Questions or interested in a live demo? Send an e-mail to info@kensho.euGreet Maeyaert is a trained LEGO® Serious Play® Facilitator.

WHAT IS LSP?LSP is used to facilitate meetings, communication, problem solving, etc.

Four elements are key in this method:

1. constructionism,2. metaphors, 3. storytelling and 4. play.

I CONSTRUCTIONISMBasically, the methodology is to build models with LEGO® bricks. As our hands are connected to 80% of our brain cells, constructing models with our fi ngers unleashes creativity, modes of thought and ways of seeing things that may never been tapped otherwise.

I METAPHORS A metaphor is a fi gure of speech that gives a deeper meaning to our surface understanding of reality. E.g. by building an idea with LEGO® bricks it is much easier to discuss the characteristics of the idea by visualizing it in 3D than during a standard meeting using 2D materials.

I STORYTELLINGIn any culture stories have always been shared as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and instilling moral values. During a workshop facilitated with LSP, participants share their story with the other participants based on the built models.

I PLAYAs adults we are no longer used to play. Moreover, most people see play as the opposite of work. However studies show that play is essential to develop social and problem solving skills. Therefore play is all over the LEGO® Serious Play® methodology. It does not only bring fun into the workshop but it also enables to achieve the purpose of the workshop.

WHEN TO USE LSP?LSP can be used to tackle any business challenge, from mergers and acquisitions, over reorganizations, team and leadership development, to strategy development, etc.

The methodology works at its best when two conditions are met:

1. the challenge is complex: there is no obvious solution or right answer,

2. the manager is courageous: (s)he admits not knowing all the answers and is ready to hear out all his/her employees.

WHY USE LSP?The method draws on extensive academic research from the fi elds of business, organization development, psychology and learning.

It is all about creating new knowledge to solve problems, about surfacing and clarifying insights.

It is an e� cient way of decision making as within a very short period of time a group of heterogeneous people have a clear shared direction.

I REFERENCESLSP is used worldwide. The best reference is how the LEGO Company turned their strategy into a success story based on their own developed methodology.

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“Play is our natural way of adapting and developing new skills.” Brown Stuart