The Methodology
The LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methodology is an innovative process designed to enhance innovation and business performance. Based on research which shows that this kind of hands-on, minds-on learning produces a deeper, more meaningful understanding of the world and its possibilities, the LEGO SERIOUS PLAY methodology deepens the reflection process and supports an effective dialogue – for everyone in the organisation. It is an innovative, experimental process designed to enhance innovation and business performance.
The Essence
The LEGO SERIOUS PLAY methodology is a facilitated meeting, communication and problem-solving process in which participants are led through a series of questions, probing deeper and deeper into the subject. Each participant builds his or her own 3D LEGO model in response to the facilitator’s questions using specially selected LEGO elements. These 3D models serve as a basis for group discussion, knowledge sharing, problem solving and decision making.
It is a technique which improves group problem solving. By utilising visual, auditory and kinaesthetic skills, the methodology requires participants to learn and listen, and it provides all participants with a voice. The LEGO SERIOUS PLAY methodology serves as a shared language regardless of culture or position and requires a trained LEGO SERIOUS PLAY facilitator.
Gaining Confidence and Committing to a Shared Goal
During the facilitated meeting, you will be building landscape models with LEGO elements, giving them meaning through story-making and playing out various possible scenarios – a process which deepens understanding, sharpens insight and socially ‘bonds’ together the group as it ‘plays’ together. The methodology will guide you into a free and honest exchange of opinion. The physical and tangible construction allows you to have conversations which flow without the fear of hurting anyone’s feelings.
A Tool for Building Results
The LEGO SERIOUS PLAY methodology is based on the belief that everyone can contribute to the discussion, the decisions and the outcome.
The LEGO elements work as a catalyst – and when used for building metaphors, they trigger processes that you were probably previously unaware of.
Workshop participants leave with skills to communicate more effectively, to engage their imagination more readily and to approach their work with increased confidence, commitment and insight.
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®: Three Days to a Unified Strategy
LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP) is a facilitated meeting methodology designed to foster creative thinking and communication in organizational settings. It leverages LEGO® bricks to help participants build models that represent ideas and concepts, promoting engagement and collaboration. A three-day session focused on creating a unified strategy can be broken down into phases, each day focusing on different goals and using LSP to develop a cohesive strategy.
Day One: Discovery & Exploration
The goal of day one is to explore the current situation and align the team on shared values, challenges, and the context within which the organisation operates.
1. Introduction to LEGO® Serious Play®
Facilitator introduces LSP methodology and objectives for the session. Participants are introduced to building LEGO® models as a way to express thoughts and ideas.
2. Individual Identity Models
Participants build individual models representing their role, values, and perspectives on the current state of the organisation.
3. Shared Landscape Creation
Teams collaborate to create a shared landscape of the organisation by connecting their individual models. This helps identify commonalities, contradictions, and areas of opportunity or concern.
Teams collaborate to create a shared landscape of the organisation by connecting their individual models. This helps identify commonalities, contradictions, and areas of opportunity or concern.
4. Defining Key Challenges
Participants build models to represent the key challenges facing the organisation, laying the foundation for strategic discussions. These models act as visual metaphors for deeper conversations.
Participants build models to represent the key challenges facing the organisation, laying the foundation for strategic discussions. These models act as visual metaphors for deeper conversations.
By the end of day one, participants have a clear understanding of their collective viewpoints and the current state of the organisation, along with the challenges they need to address in the strategic planning process.
Day Two: Strategy Development
Day two focuses on envisioning the future and creating models that represent potential strategic directions for the organisation.
1. Vision Models
Participants build models that represent their vision for the future of the organization, including long-term goals, aspirations, and key outcomes they want to achieve.
2. Scenario Building
Small teams build models that represent different strategic scenarios, each addressing key challenges identified in day one. This encourages creative problem-solving and multiple perspectives on strategic pathways.
Small teams build models that represent different strategic scenarios, each addressing key challenges identified in day one. This encourages creative problem-solving and multiple perspectives on strategic pathways.
3. Risk and Opportunity Analysis
Participants modify their models to reflect risks, opportunities, and constraints that may arise in their chosen strategic direction. This step helps create a more realistic and grounded vision of the strategy.
Participants modify their models to reflect risks, opportunities, and constraints that may arise in their chosen strategic direction. This step helps create a more realistic and grounded vision of the strategy.
4. Consolidation of Strategies
The facilitator leads a discussion where teams integrate their models, merging the most promising strategies into a unified approach.
The facilitator leads a discussion where teams integrate their models, merging the most promising strategies into a unified approach.
By the end of Day two, the group has developed multiple potential strategic paths and narrowed them down to a unified vision that aligns with the organisation's goals and addresses its key challenges.
Day Three: Action Planning & Alignment
The final day is dedicated to turning the unified strategy into an actionable plan, ensuring alignment across the organisation.
1. Strategic Priorities
Participants refine their strategy by identifying key priorities and critical initiatives that need to be implemented. LEGO® models are used to visually represent the priority structure.
2. Roadmap Construction
Teams collaborate to build a timeline or roadmap using LEGO® bricks, laying out short-term and long-term initiatives. Each participant contributes to ensure clarity on responsibilities and timelines.
Teams collaborate to build a timeline or roadmap using LEGO® bricks, laying out short-term and long-term initiatives. Each participant contributes to ensure clarity on responsibilities and timelines.
3. Action Models & Role Clarity
Participants build models to represent specific actions, roles, and responsibilities. This helps clarify how each team member or department will contribute to executing the strategy.
Participants build models to represent specific actions, roles, and responsibilities. This helps clarify how each team member or department will contribute to executing the strategy.
4. Final Alignment
The group discusses and finalises the strategy, ensuring everyone is aligned with the decisions made over the last three days. Final models serve as a collective visual artefact that represents the agreed-upon strategy.
The group discusses and finalises the strategy, ensuring everyone is aligned with the decisions made over the last three days. Final models serve as a collective visual artefact that represents the agreed-upon strategy.
By the end of day three, the group has a clear, unified strategic plan, complete with priorities, a timeline, and specific actions. There is full alignment across the team, and the LEGO® models act as powerful visual reminders of the agreed-upon strategy.
Using LEGO® Serious Play® over three days allows teams to explore, create, and align on a unified strategy through highly engaging and collaborative sessions. The process promotes open communication, creative problem-solving, and a deep sense of ownership over the final strategy.
Programme Fees
Standard Fee: £3,500 +VAT
Early Bird Discount: £2,900 +VAT (if registered three months before the start date)
Group Discounts: Available for corporate bookings of six or more participants.
The fee includes all course materials, lunches, and refreshments throughout the programme. Accommodation is not included, but preferential rates at nearby hotels can be arranged.