As businesses and organizations evolve in today’s competitive market, creativity, and innovation have become integral to staying ahead of the curve. However, coming up with new and innovative ideas can be challenging, especially when working in a team environment. It is where the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) methodology comes in, providing a unique and practical approach to facilitating creativity and innovation.
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is a facilitation technique that uses Lego bricks to enable participants to express their thoughts and ideas creatively. Developed in the late 1990s by Johan Roos and Bart Victor of the International Institute of Management Development (IMD), Switzerland, LSP was initially intended for strategic planning and organizational development. Since then, it has evolved into a tool for various applications, including innovation, problem-solving, and team building.
One of the core principles of LSP is that everyone in a group has something valuable to contribute. Using Lego bricks as a medium for communication, participants are encouraged to express their ideas visually rather than through traditional verbal or written communication. This allows individuals who may be less comfortable with conventional forms of communication to have an equal opportunity to contribute and be heard.
The LSP process typically involves a trained facilitator guiding participants through exercises designed to stimulate creativity and innovation. These exercises can vary in length and complexity, depending on the specific goals of the session. One of the most common exercises is “Build to Express,” in which participants are given a prompt or question and asked to build a model using Lego bricks that represent their thoughts or ideas related to the prompt. Participants then share their models with the group and explain the meaning behind their creations. This process can help uncover hidden insights, perspectives, and assumptions that may have been overlooked in traditional brainstorming sessions.
Another popular exercise is “Shared Model Building,” where participants work together to build a model representing a shared concept or vision. This exercise encourages collaboration and can help break down silos within teams or departments. By working together towards a common goal, participants can better understand each other’s perspectives and identify areas where they can build on each other’s strengths.
Various organizations and industries have used LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® to facilitate creativity and innovation. For example, the design and architecture firm Gensler used LSP to develop a new workplace strategy for a large insurance company. Using LSP, Gensler was able to involve employees from all levels of the organization in the design process, resulting in a more inclusive and effective workplace strategy.
LSP has been used to develop innovative teaching methods in the education sector. The University of Cambridge, for instance, used LSP to facilitate discussions about the future of education and the industry’s challenges. The process helped participants think outside the box and generate new ideas for improving education.
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® has also been used in healthcare to develop innovative solutions to complex problems. The University of Virginia Health System used LSP to help design a new cancer center. The process enabled participants to visualize the patient experience and identify areas for improvement.
LSP has proven to be an effective tool for facilitating creativity and innovation, and its benefits have been supported by research. A study by the University of British Columbia found that teams who used LSP could generate a higher quantity and quality of ideas than teams who used traditional brainstorming methods. The study also found that LSP helped teams better understand each other’s perspectives and increased their engagement and participation.
In conclusion, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® provides a unique and practical approach to facilitating creativity and innovation. Using Lego bricks as a medium for communication, LSP enables participants to express their ideas visually and encourages equal participation from all team members. LSP has been used in various industries and settings, from design and architecture to healthcare and education, and has been shown to generate higher quality and quantity of ideas than traditional brainstorming methods. If you want a new and effective way to facilitate creativity and innovation within your organization, consider trying LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®.
