Lego Serious Play - help people to think seriously out of the box

Happy International LEGO Day! )

Why do we at ally celebrate this day?

Because LEGO has put PLAY on the managers’ agenda.

When to use it? Scroll down to check out instructions on HOW to play!

Try this whenever you want people to think outside the box. Our hands are faster than we can think. And with LEGO our hands move even faster. Be prepared for some interesting conversations.

Why do people love it? Because many of us played with those wonderful colourful bricks and figures as kids, or we still play now with the kids around us.

This phenomena is called: Lego® Serious Play®. We’re fine with putting the word “serious” in the middle as long as it has the sign off from the management, and the buy in to play for all kinds of professionals: engineers, software developers, designers, product managers.

What is it?

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® began as an experiential process designed for use in guided workshops with adults to prompt dialogue and encourage reflection, as well as develop problem-solving skills and use of the imagination.

This innovative approach to interaction is a valuable asset in business as well as education and helps participants open up through the approachable medium of play.

source

How to play: The LSP process

Pose the Question
Construction (individual)
Sharing
Reflection
Construct together

Practices

Scenario Team (<12ppl)

assign a facilitator who keeps the timebox, and takes notes along the way. You might want to ask someone outside the team

Scenario Department (>12ppl)

Split the department into diverse groups (size 6-8ppl)
Each group has an assigned facilitator
The facilitators share the outcome per group with the entire department

LSP Instructions

Pose the question, or a problem statement. For example:
1. “How can we connect as a department across teams?”
2. “What obstacles are there in our collaboration?”
3. “How do we want to work together as a team”?
Construct (20min), everyone for themselves
Sharing (3min per person): each individual shares their model. The facilitator writes key words on post its e.g. harmonious, open encouraging discussions, creativity, …) that stick out and places them next to the model.
Reflection (20min): what similarities do we detect? What else does someone want to contribute? What was surprising?
Construct shared model (30min): instruct the group to co-create a shared model, embedding the key words the facilitator collected on post its.
One sentences from each on the model: main take away.

Enjoy!