At a recent Boston Design Thinking Meetup we got an introduction to the Lego Serious Play methodology.

1. …first a bit of history
In response to unimaginative strategy sessions, LEGO started looking
for a better way.
The Lego Serious Play method was first imagined in 1994. It wasn’t
until 2003 that a licensed partner program became available. With a
license one could get access to the facilitation materials and purchase
the specialized Lego kits.
In 2010 Lego abandoned the licensed partner model and made Lego
Serious Play Open Source

2. …why is LSP good
Most meetings adhere to the 20/80 rule… 20% of the people do 80% of the
participating. LSP enables a 100/100 model.
The hand is the leading edge of the mind.
By applying the rules of LSP (etiquette) we can communicate more
openly and get to deeper places.

3. I HATE MEETINGS

4. 21%
12%
67%
I hate meetings
I don't like meetings
I prefer not to go to meetings

5. …LSP makes meetings better
• Everyone gets involved
• Unlocking tacit new knowledge
• Breaking habitual thinking

6. www.seriousplay.com
Building a Better
Business Using the
Lego Serious Play
Method
Play: How it Shapes
the Brain, Opens the
Imagination, and
Invigorates the Soul

7. Team Dynamics Boston
http://teamdynamicsboston.com/
Rasmussen Consulting
http://www.rasmussenconsulting.dk/

8. Etiquette
• Everyone quietly builds
• Your partner shares their model, without interruption
• Ask questions of the model, not the builder
• You tell their story back to them

9. Build a tower

10. What is your identity?

11. Reflect
While you build, ask yourself…
“What was something really interesting you learned about
your partner?”
“What was surprising or telling?”
“What was my partner feeling?”

12. Reflect
Complete the following statements…
“My partner really wanted me to know ______________.”
“My partner feels ______________.”
“That is important to them because ______________.”
“The one word I would use to sum it all up is ______________.”

13. Collaborate
Write the “one word” on a post-it and pass it to the
person next to you (NOT your partner).
Build what’s on the post-it.
Share it back to the person who gave it to you.

14. Build the ultimate vehicle for
your partner