I’ve always been one to explore innovative approaches to facilitate learning and help organizations break through old scripts and discover fresh, systems-based perspectives. I’ve maintained that systems trump sentiment every time regarding authentic employee engagement. As a Certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator, I’ve seen firsthand how this methodology transforms individuals and team dynamics.
The Science Behind the Bricks
LEGO SERIOUS PLAY isn’t about nostalgia or childish activities disguised as work. It’s a scientifically designed system that leverages our brain’s connections between hands and cognitive function. When we build physical models representing abstract concepts—such as leadership, strategy, or culture—among others, we activate neural pathways that traditional discussion simply cannot reach.
The science is precise: when we engage our hands in building, we access up to 80% more brain capacity than simply talking. This explains why breakthrough insights often emerge during my client sessions or workshops that have eluded teams for months in conventional settings.
The Magic in the Method: Creating Productive Tension and Release
This approach is particularly fascinating because of the intentional rhythm of tension and release built into the process. As a facilitator, I create a time-constrained environment for building—typically just 3 minutes per model. This deliberate pressure is where the magic happens.
When I announce, “You have 3 minutes to build a model that represents your biggest challenge in your role right now,” participants don’t have time to overthink or self-edit. I’ll call out “halfway there” and “30-seconds remaining” to maintain that productive urgency. This time pressure bypasses our analytical brain and taps directly into our intuitive knowledge.
Then comes the transformation. When building time ends, the energy in the room shifts dramatically. Participants who moments ago were frantically connecting bricks suddenly become animated storytellers—like kids at show-and-tell, but with profound business insights. Their pride and excitement are palpable as they explain models they didn’t even know they were going to build until their hands created them.
I’ve watched executives who struggle to articulate complex challenges in meetings suddenly tell rich, metaphorical stories about their LEGO® models, revealing insights they didn’t consciously know they had. This is neuroscience in action – accessing knowledge stored in parts of our brain that verbal communication alone cannot reach.
Creating Conditions for Engagement Across Generations
This methodology’s ability to level the playing field makes it particularly valuable in today’s multi-generational workforce. Whether your team includes Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, or Gen Z, the universal language of building creates a shared experience where:
- Every voice is heard: The process requires each person to build and explain their model, eliminating the ordinary meeting dynamic where the loudest or most senior voices dominate.
- Concrete metaphors replace abstract jargon: When a team member builds a model showing their department as an island disconnected from the mainland, the message is immediately apparent in a way that “siloed operations” never quite achieves.
- Level-setting undesired behaviors becomes more straightforward: Focusing on the models rather than individuals creates a sense of psychological safety for addressing challenging topics.
From Theory to Transformation: Real Results
In my consulting practice, I’ve facilitated LEGO SERIOUS PLAY sessions that have helped leadership teams identify blind spots in their strategic planning that had been invisible through traditional planning sessions. I’ve also enabled cross-functional teams to break through entrenched positions and find innovative solutions and means to collaborate optimally for the bigger win. When challenged with confusion around roles and responsibilities, building models has created clarity that previous attempts could not break through.
My favorite exercise is transforming abstract concepts, like identifying core values, into tangible models that can be analyzed, discussed, and intentionally shaped. This systematic approach produces consistent results regardless of the facilitator’s charisma or the team’s initial enthusiasm—exactly what we need for sustainable business transformation!
Your Next Steps
If you’re intrigued by how this methodology might help your business break through barriers:
- Consider your most persistent challenges: What conversations keep circling without resolution? Which strategic initiatives have stalled? Where do you sense hidden perspectives aren’t emerging?
- Look beyond the obvious applications: While team building is an obvious use, the methodology is equally robust for strategic planning, driving innovation, role clarity, and leadership evolution.
- Reach out for a conversation: I’d be happy to discuss how this approach might be tailored to your business challenge.
I’m committed to helping you and your organization achieve greatness through systematic approaches that deliver consistent and measurable results. I’d love to hear if you’ve experienced LEGO SERIOUS PLAY or similar methodologies in your work. Reply to share your story!
To you, continued success, and have a great weekend!
Cyndi
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P.S. Want to make your highest contribution in your work and life? Click here for your complimentary Core Value Index™ assessment (8-min to complete, and 97.7% reliability).
