ONLINE LEGO® Serious Play®

“People expect to be bored by eLearning – let’s show them it doesn’t have to be like that!”

– Cammy Bean

Context

It is fair to say that LEGO Serious Play is a ‘hands-on’ experience. You would be forgiven for thinking that using bricks to build models and tell stories does not lend itself well to ‘being online’ or working remotely – particularly when working collaboratively!

Prior to the pandemic, that was the way we felt about it too… However, COVID challenged our rigid belief that a remote version of the method ‘could not be done’, and led us at SERIOUSWORK to adopt an increasingly disruptive mindset.

The result, Online LEGO Serious Play.

Why Online LEGO Serious Play?

“Those who say it can’t be done are usually interrupted by others doing it.”

– James Baldwin

There is no doubt that COVID-19 changed the world forever – the world of work being no exception.

Today, 1 in 4 people in the UK work from home at least some of the time. Compare that with 1 in 20 in 2019 and it gives you some idea of just how much things have changed.

One thing’s for sure, hybrid working habits are here to stay – and organisations must evolve to meet the shifting demands of this new paradigm.

Whilst there are obvious advantages to this brave new world , there are also unique challenges. For example, how do organisations stimulate meaningful co-creation and innovation in the online space?

Cue Online LEGO Serious Play.

From a purely pragmatic point of view, there are some notable reasons why you might consider introducing the Online version LEGO Serious Play to your work environment:

• It is flexible – one training can cater to the professional development needs of your global network
• It is affordable – Learn LEGO Serious Play from the comfort of your own work / home… with none of the costs associated with travel or accommodation

Online LEGO Serious Play – What’s the Difference?

The online version of LEGO Serious Play is similar in many ways to its better known face-to-face cousin. Participants use bricks as metaphors to build models and tell stories in response to a challenge – like a 3D printer for their thoughts. There are however some notable differences… especially when it comes to shared model building

‘Magic Hands’

One of the obvious challenges of Online LEGO Serious Play is that it is difficult to pick up part of a colleague’s model if they are joining you on a Zoom call from the other side of the world.

This is why we at SERIOUSWORK developed the ‘Magic Hands’ technique. Using their ‘Magic Hands’, facilitators of Online LEGO Serious Play invite participants to instruct them how they would like to build – being sure to stay neutral though the use of clean questions. In this way, participants are able to construct a shared model that reflects their collective thinking and understanding.

Technology Enhanced Clarity

Another unique challenge to the Online version of LEGO Serious Play, is that it is undoubtedly more difficult for participants to understand the meaning of all parts of other people’s models.

Technology can play a pivotal role here in overcoming this challenge.

In our online version of the method, we use digital whiteboards to help capture the meaning of models. For shared model building, these whiteboards serve as a sort of ingredients list – with participants using them as a guide before instructing their facilitator which parts they would like to add next.

What our Online Graduates Say?

It would be easy for us to go on waxing lyrical about the value that Online LEGO Serious Play can bring to you, your clients and your teams… but instead, we thought we would share some of the feedback from people who have graduated from our Online LEGO Serious Play training:

“It opened up a new way of thinking about how learning can take place”

“It proved to be the best learning environment as I was engaged and interacting with the facilitator and participants throughout the two days online.”

“I learnt how meanings and ideas can be built in constructive, innovative and playful ways.

What Next?

If you are curious to learn more about how Online LEGO Serious Play could add value to you and your work, then reach out to us today.

hi@serious.global

We run public Online LEGO Serious Play trainings, but we also offer custom in-house trainings.

Here, you can make use of flexible dates and timings – spreading the training out over more than two days if necessary – and custom design; including bespoke build questions designed with your organisation’s specific needs in mind.

What are you waiting for? Come Play.