What is LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and why to use it

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is a method for creating real-time strategies for individuals, teams and organizations. The LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method uses LEGO® bricks and elements to help people “think through their fingers” — unleashing intuition, inspiration and imagination. The method is based on the creation of 3D visual metaphors aimed at representing the main issues you want to think about and the possible ways to solve them, involving all aspects of the human dimension (rational, emotional, instinctive) simply by building models and telling stories about them. (storymaking) helped by a facilitator.

It uses LEGO® bricks because unlike other tools that could be used (such as drawing or plasticine) it can be used immediately (it only takes a few minutes for all participants to know how to use them, it is the initial phase of all workshops) and it is an instrument without memory (once a model has been disassembled, the single bricks used are indistinguishable from the others, which is not the case with plasticine, for example).

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is often used in meetings and workshops, where complex issues are discussed (such as interpersonal ones, those related to team development, business development, change projects) and where decisions need to be built, shared and supported by all those who participate. LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® invites all participants to take an active part in the process. Common language — the bricks — treats everyone as equal and allows everyone’s opinions (in all their aspects) to be heard. Therefore, the experience of each person involved is used, understanding what everyone thinks of their work and that of others. LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® allows you to make sure everyone is 100% involved, without experiencing any kind of stress.

Models are built with LEGO® bricks, giving them meaning through storymaking, and playing with various possible scenarios. Thus it is easier and more engaging to discover and analyze the relationships and connections between people and their world, observe internal and external dynamics, explore different hypothetical scenarios and gain awareness of different possibilities. All this deepens understanding, sharpens intuition, and socially holds the group that “plays” together. LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® allows you to make decisions based on concrete data and information, exploring new possibilities and aligning the whole team with the objectives of the organization and towards a solution (decision path), or realigning the group to the vision (corporate or internal) to be which it originated enriched by the contribution of all the participants.

The methodology allows excellent results to be achieved very quickly, as several cases have already shown (starting with LEGO®, which with this method came out of the crisis of the late 1990s).

Just as Napoleon used lead soldiers to test his battle strategies, so with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® you do the same thing: not only will you find multiple answers to one (or several) questions, but you will be able to learn more all possibilities and different options.

With LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® you will always have access to all the ideas of the group of participants.

Next Certified Facilitator training program will be in Valpolicella next month from tuesday 21st may 2024 to friday 24th may2024, if you need more information about this training, feel free to send me an e-mail.

The co-author of the methodology, Per Kristiansen, returns to Italy together with another great expert on the method, Fabrizio Faraco. The training program will prepare participants to tailor the use of the methodology in an organisation, as well as to develop and facilitate workshops using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®. The training provides hands-on experience, theory, facilitation guidelines, and application ideas.