Beyond Blocks: Unlocking Team Potential with LEGO SERIOUS PLAY

Imagine walking into a business strategy meeting where instead of endless PowerPoint slides and theoretical discussions, participants are building complex organizational challenges using LEGO bricks. This is LEGO SERIOUS PLAY, a revolutionary approach that transforms how teams communicate, problem-solve, and innovate.

What Makes LEGO SERIOUS PLAY Different?

Traditional brainstorming often falls flat. People get stuck in verbal patterns, hierarchy influences conversations, and introverts struggle to share ideas. LEGO SERIOUS PLAY flips this script by creating a level playing field where everyone's perspective matters—literally and figuratively.

Origins: From Play to Profound Methodology

LEGO SERIOUS PLAY wasn't born in a traditional corporate boardroom, but through an unexpected collaboration. In the late 1990s, Johan Roos and Bart Victor, two business professors, partnered with LEGO to explore how play could unlock organizational learning and strategy development. Working closely with LEGO's leadership, including the company's then-owner Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, they developed a methodology that challenged conventional business thinking.

Initially conceived as a way to help leaders think more creatively about complex business challenges, the method was formally developed between 1998 and 2004. LEGO invested significant resources in developing the approach, working with organizational psychologists, business strategists, and innovation experts to create a robust, scientifically-grounded methodology.

Global Adoption: Who's Using LEGO SERIOUS PLAY?

Today, LEGO SERIOUS PLAY has been embraced by a diverse range of organizations:

• Fortune 500 companies like Google, Coca-Cola, and NASA

• Leading consulting firms including McKinsey and Deloitte

• Global technology companies such as Intel and SAP

• Academic institutions like MIT and INSEAD

• Non-profit organizations and government agencies

• Small startups and mid-sized enterprises looking for innovative problem-solving approaches

The Psychological Magic Behind the Method

Our brains are wired to think differently when we're hands-on. By engaging in physical building, participants:

• Activate different cognitive pathways

• Bypass typical communication barriers

• Express complex ideas through tangible metaphors

• Reduce defensive communication patterns

The Science of Playful Strategy

Neuroscience reveals that hands-on activities like LEGO building stimulate multiple brain regions simultaneously. When you build, you're not just moving pieces—you're creating neural connections that unlock creative problem-solving.

Key psychological principles at work:

• Embodied cognition: Thinking through physical manipulation

• Metaphorical reasoning: Using spatial representations to understand abstract concepts

• Psychological safety: Creating a non-threatening environment for authentic expression

LEGO SERIOUS PLAY isn't about building perfect structures. It's about using play as a powerful lens to understand complex organizational dynamics.

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Ready to explore how LEGO SERIOUS PLAY can supercharge your team? Book a free consultation and discover how Play Seriously Consulting can revolutionize your organizational approach.