What is Lego® Serious Play®?

Lego ® Serious Play ® (LSP) is a facilitation technique and methodology that uses LEGO bricks as a tool for creative problem-solving, team building, and innovation. It was developed by the LEGO Group in collaboration with a group of organizational development, business strategy, and psychology experts in the late 1990s.

Here's how LEGO Serious Play typically works:

• Hands-On Building: Participants are given LEGO bricks and are asked to build 3D models or structures that represent their thoughts, ideas, or responses to specific questions or challenges.
• Metaphorical Thinking: The use of LEGO allows participants to express themselves metaphorically, making it easier to communicate complex ideas and concepts.
• Storytelling: Participants explain their creations and share the stories behind them. This storytelling process encourages deeper reflection and discussion.
• Collaboration: LSP often involves group activities where participants work together to build and share their models, leading to collaborative problem-solving and idea generation.
• Facilitated Process: A trained facilitator guides the session, asking questions, and facilitating discussions to help participants explore and address the specific issues or challenges at hand.

LEGO Serious Play is used in various settings and has many applications, including business, education, and nonprofit organizations. It is particularly popular for team-building exercises, strategy development, and innovation workshops. The methodology is designed to unlock creative thinking, encourage open communication, and promote a deeper understanding of complex problems and solutions.

Sources: ​​

https://seriousplay.training/lego-serious-play/

Kristiansen, P. and Rasmussen, R. (2014) Building a better business using the lego serious play method. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Inc. 

 Roos, J., Victor, B., & Statler, M. (2004). Playing seriously with strategy. Long range planning, 37(6), 549-568.