What is LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®?
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) is an innovative approach that transforms the way teams tackle challenges by engaging participants in building 3D models with LEGO® bricks. This high-impact workshop method was co-developed by Johan Roos and Bart Victor alongside The LEGO Group, with contributions from Kristiansen & Rasmussen. It enables creative thinking and problem-solving through tactile engagement, making abstract ideas tangible and fostering deeper understanding.
LSP has gained prominence as a tool for leadership development, collaborative learning, and enhancing business performance. It serves as a divergent thinking tool for generating ideas and solutions, and a convergent thinking tool to refine and implement them. Whether in corporate strategy sessions, Agile workshops, or educational contexts, LSP delivers remarkable learning outcomes across a wide range of applications.
Theoretical Foundations of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is grounded in several established theories and models:
Constructivism and Constructionism
These theories, pioneered by Jean Piaget and Seymour Papert, form the core of LSP. They posit that knowledge is constructed through experience and enhanced when individuals build physical representations of their ideas. By creating individual models, participants engage in experiential learning, translating abstract thoughts into concrete insights.
Theories Behind LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Innovation Techniques
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of flow—a state of optimal experience and focus—is central to LSP. Manipulating LEGO® bricks encourages active participation and immersion, leading to creative breakthroughs.
Adult Learning Model
LSP aligns with principles of adult learning by incorporating different learning styles and fostering a hands-on, engaging environment. The LEGO Foundation, a key advocate of the method, highlights its applicability for participants from secondary education students to leadership students and professional adults.
Storytelling and Social Impact
Building LEGO® models as metaphors for ideas facilitates storytelling, a practice supported by leadership literature and Leadership Studies. LSP has demonstrated value in addressing societal challenges, such as working with autistic children, supporting student leadership development, and even exploring topics like social care and care robots.
Accelerating Innovation with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
Innovation acceleration involves speeding up the development and implementation of novel ideas. Innovation in LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® supports this goal through several mechanisms:
Enhancing Creative Thinking and Communication
Participants build 3D representations of concepts, enabling clearer articulation of complex ideas. This helps address abstract customer experiences and organisational challenges in innovative ways.
Breaking Down Complexity
Using LEGO® bricks, teams can simplify intricate problems into manageable parts, aiding solution design and enabling collective design. The process aligns with instructional strategies advocated by institutions like the Harvard Business Review.
Fostering Collaboration
By ensuring active participation, LSP leverages the participation rate of every individual, whether they are executives, educators, or students. This collaborative approach is effective in diverse contexts, from the Warwick Innovation District to GBSB Global Business School.
Supporting Leadership Practices
LSP reinforces vertical leadership and integrates practices of leadership educators. In settings like The Leadership Circle, it enhances understanding of strategic goals, encouraging alignment and innovation.
Achieving High-Impact Results
Incorporating LSP into workshops leads to actionable insights that improve business performance and strategy execution. These results are particularly notable in leadership and educational contexts, where the method aligns with scientific-psychological approaches and academic experiences.
How LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Works
Engaging Facilitator Training and Certification
Effective use of LSP requires skilled facilitation. Facilitator certification programs and advanced training programs, led by experts like Robert Rasmussen and Rasmussen Consulting, ensure that facilitators are equipped to maximise the method’s impact.
Tools and Techniques
A standard LSP workshop often utilises resources like a 1500-piece classic LEGO® set to encourage creativity. Workshops are structured to balance divergent thinking tools for idea generation with focused techniques for decision-making.
Creating a Safe Environment
The method promotes an inclusive atmosphere where participants feel comfortable sharing ideas. This is crucial for student leadership development, addressing challenges like strategy for youth employment, and fostering economic growth.
Documenting Outcomes
Models and narratives are captured to guide follow-up actions, tracking innovation’s annual growth rate and its impact on metrics like domestic material consumption and material footprint.
Real-World Applications of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® for Innovation
Business and Leadership
Organisations across industries have integrated LSP to drive innovation. From The Leadership Circle to Harvard Business Review-featured companies, LSP facilitates better decision-making and strategy alignment.
Education and Social Impact
In educational settings, LSP supports education students and secondary education teachers, enhancing their ability to tackle challenges. Its use with autistic children demonstrates its versatility and social value.
Creative Industries
Creative hubs like the Warwick Innovation District employ LSP to encourage creativity and innovation, empowering teams to ideate and prototype effectively.
Social and Technological Challenges
By exploring complex themes like communications technology, sound technologies, and social care, LSP contributes to addressing global issues and improving societal well-being.
Conclusion: Unlocking the Potential of Innovation in LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is more than a tool—it’s a transformative experiential learning process that drives creative thinking, enhances learning outcomes, and fosters collaboration. Whether applied to business performance, student leadership development, or tackling social challenges, LSP offers a scientific-psychological approach to problem-solving and innovation.
For organisations, educators, and leaders seeking to stay ahead in today’s competitive environment, embracing LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is a strategic move. To learn more about facilitator training, advanced modules, and tailored workshops, visit Serious Play Business.
