The word ‘Play’ is often taken in a very light manner… almost tilting towards being a ‘frivolous’ activity. I have often asked people what is the opposite of ‘play’ and invariably have come up with answers like – ‘work’, ‘labour’, ‘seriousness’, ‘sobriety’, ‘business’, ‘drudgery’ etc. to name a few. Popular belief is ‘play’ definitely cannot be serious business!
Generations have been raised playing with LEGO bricks. Lot of educational institutes and corporates have been using these bricks to make replicas, models or prototypes as well. However, using LEGO bricks for some serious work does not really strike a chord.
We possibly had a similar mindset till we came across the concept of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®. Intrigued, we decided to explore more about it and learn to facilitate using the same. It opened up a whole new world of possibilities. LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is a methodology that is created by the LEGO Group after years of research and application. It is a structured tool that hinges securely on a very high-end, prop-driven, scientific communication process.
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is a convergent process and adds several layers of outcomes, which can be useful for any form of team program, event or meeting. As someone had notably said “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.”
This innovative playful way of team alignment and strategic goal setting helps –
- to reduce dependence on simple memory of participants. Explanations are done using models and bricks that stay on board, unlike words or slides that pass by
- introverts to pitch in equally with extroverts in a group setting
- patient phases of self introspection and story build-up
- usage of audio, visual & kinesthetic modes. These add to very high recall factor of discussions, plans or outcomes long after the event or meeting is over. This leads to sustained consistency of ideas amongst members
- to come to shared understanding by seeing merits in another’s idea, embracing and building on productive ideas. Sometimes even seeing one’s own viewpoints critically and giving up one’s own idea or parts of an idea become far easier in this process.
We have facilitated successful workshops so far to ideate, align teams & vision, build strategies and systems models. The method works best with a focused, core team and with an intended direction of outcome.
Its quite simple really…. You play with your team and some serious work gets done!
“Combinatory play seems to be the essential feature in productive thought.” ― Albert Einstein
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bipasha-roy-3788a617/
Become a LEGO Serious Play facilitator - check one of the upcoming training events!