Think with hands: Inspiration from a LEGO? Serious Play? experience

Recently I had the opportunity to join an experiential workshop, organised by certified facilitator of LEGO? SERIOUS PLAY? Manny Li and Causal Tech Meetup founder Timothy Chan , to explore the key skills of a facilitator.

This #FacSnippet is a two-fold sharing of an LSP workshop experience and its inspiration to foster collaboration.

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What is LEGO? Serious Play??

LEGO? SERIOUS PLAY? (LSP) is a facilitation methodology, designed by LEGO group for adults to enhance business performance and innovation through building with LEGO bricks.

Participants are led by a facilitator through cycles of Question > Build > Share > Reflect to Think with their Hands. Upon receiving questions that address a specific challenge, they are required to create models that visually represent their thoughts and ideas. These three-dimensional models serve as a foundation for group discussion, knowledge sharing, problem-solving, and decision-making, which deepens the reflection and supports an effective dialogue – for everyone.?

In 2010, the LEGO Group decided to offer the LSP methodology as a community-based model under the Creative Commons License Deed.

What was the workshop experience?

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, we gathered around a wooden table with LEGO bricks, eager to play. It was my first time building without a manual, and I arrived with curiosity and uncertainty, as I wasn’t sure if I could build something quick and meaningful. But with Manny's encouraging guidance, I soon embraced the power of LEGO to organise thoughts and connect ideas for both myself and the group, moving from I to We.

Why?

• It gives 3D shape to thoughts. In the workshop, we used specific bricks to present answers to a challenge/ prompt within time constraints. We can connect them in any way, and the beauty is that we didn't have to make it precisely resemble our thoughts, but instead rely on imagination - the association of colours, shapes, and metaphors that we can relate to mentally. Post-it notes, another popular tool for capturing ideas, are more two-dimensional and suitable for literal or straightforward concepts, whereas LEGO bricks embody deeper, more abstract thinking that helps us get ideas out of our heads easier.

• It prompts us to tell a story. Once the model was built, we had to explain to the group what it meant. For example, "this yellow transparent brick represents critical thinking, and that long black stick, which looks like an antenna, represents someone with a sensitive mind." These bricks act as pointers to convey our thoughts more structurally. When combining individual models into a shared model, we tell a longer, complex story about the big picture, describing relationships between the components. By moving the models with our hands, we show alternatives and communicate choices to reach a consensus with our group mates.

• It boosts our listening skills. From time to time, the facilitator asked us to summarise what others had said. This exercise promotes active listening, thorough comprehension, and retention of the shared information. On the other hand, it makes us feel heard, acknowledged when others can reiterate our thoughts without omitting any minor details. It fosters a connection among individuals through the attention and focus we devote to one another.

Below is the group outcome that responded to the big question - key skills of a facilitator:

To become a good facilitator, you need to start with thoughtful consideration and passion on this journey. You have to be intentional with every step you take, involving observation and nurturing of individuals who bring different perspectives. It is important to show presence and provide guidance throughout the process, while also being confident in communicating your approach to guide the group towards a shared goal.

How does LSP inspire us to facilitate collaboration?

On one hand, participating in an LSP workshop is an enjoyable experience - the interactive, fun nature of it makes the collaborative process more dynamic.

On the other hand, what LSP teaches us about collaboration goes beyond mere enjoyment. It demonstrates the significance of creating a space where diverse thoughts can be visualized, ideas can be evaluated, and the gap between perspectives can be bridged through communication.

1. Think of the moments when your team has little engagement in a meeting. Who is missing? What kind of support have you provided to invite the expression of ideas? Have you considered the inclusiveness of the meeting setup that can limit the types of engagement?
2. When the group is brainstorming, have you noticed the untapped experiences of individuals? Is there an opportunity for ideas to be elaborated upon instead of making assumptions about someone's thoughts?
3. While there could be different viewpoints or conflicts in collaboration, would you take the courage and time to facilitate a process of clarification and understanding with the team? Or would you avoid handling such situations and opt for quick decisions using your position?

Collaboration opens up opportunities for creative solutions. The more diverse perspectives we can synthesize, the more unique ways we can find. With proper facilitation, this process can be less daunting and more effective, enabling us to surface the group's wisdom that doesn't lie in individual intelligence.

#FasSnippet #Facilitation #LegoSeriousPlay

More resources

Open source <Introduction to LEGO? SERIOUS PLAY?> playbook

Video of LEGO Serious Play (LSP) Methodology created by Liquid Agency (2min)

Serious Work - A LEGO Serious Play community