In an age dominated by technology, it’s both intriguing and refreshing to witness the resurgence of hands-on, tactile methods in professional settings.
Enter LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) – a methodology that fuses play with profound insights. As organizations seek novel ways to engage their teams, executive coaching has found a formidable ally in LSP.
But what’s the magic behind those bricks?
And how does the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator craft this magic into meaningful conversations?
The Intricacies of the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Method
LSP isn’t about random brick-building; it’s a methodological approach rooted in scientific and psychological principles.
At its core, LSP taps into:
- Constructivist Thinking: By physically constructing their thoughts, participants actively generate knowledge and meaning, bridging the cognitive gaps that often exist in mere discussions. This makes it a game-changer even in online meetings or in leadership development.
- Narrative Thinking: Each LEGO® structure tells a story. As each person builds during a facilitation or coaching session they’re also crafting narratives, enhancing both personal and collective understanding. The hand-mind connection is incredibly powerful!
Deep Dive: The Role of the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator in Coaching
- Facilitator as an Empathetic Listener: Beyond guiding the process, a facilitator listens — not just to spoken words but to the stories emerging from the LEGO® structures. This ability to decode both verbal and non-verbal narratives distinguishes an LSP facilitator.
- Facilitator as a Challenger: A key role of the facilitator is to pose challenges that push participants out of their comfort zones, encouraging them to confront underlying assumptions and biases.
- Facilitator as an Integrator: The facilitator weaves individual narratives into a collective tapestry, fostering group cohesion and ensuring shared visions.
LEGO® and The Brain: Why LSP Resonates in Coaching
Tactile Engagement Boosts Cognitive Processes: Neuroscientific research has shown that tactile engagement — using our hands — stimulates neural connections.
When participants physically manipulate LEGO® bricks, they’re activating areas of the brain linked to memory, learning, and problem-solving.
Emotional Expression Through Bricks: LEGO® structures provide a safe, non-threatening medium for emotional expression.
For instance, a complex, precarious tower might represent workplace pressures, while a sturdy, interconnected structure might symbolize team support.
Building a Shared Language: The LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® process creates a universal language.
Regardless of participants’ backgrounds or hierarchies, everyone can communicate through their LEGO structures, leveling the playing field and fostering inclusivity.
This makes it an ideal way of doing group coaching for the purposes of team development – suitable for team leaders as well as general team members.
Envisioning LSP’s Broader Impact on Coaching
The scope of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® extends beyond team-building exercises or strategy sessions. Imagine career coaching, where individuals construct their professional trajectories using bricks, or leadership coaching, where leaders visualize their leadership styles and potential gaps.
The possibilities are manifold.
Furthermore, the realm of online coaching can integrate virtual LSP tools, offering a hybrid experience that caters to remote teams without compromising the tactile essence of LEGO®.
Final Thoughts: A Renaissance in Coaching
The appeal of the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® process transcends its novelty. It represents a return to our primal instincts — to touch, to build, and to visualize.
In a digital age, this tactile renaissance, steered by the skilled LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator, reintroduces the human touch, reminding us that sometimes, the most profound insights emerge not from screens or spreadsheets but from the interlocking of simple plastic bricks.
So, as the landscapes of work, learning, and interaction evolve, the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator stands at the crossroads, directing us towards pathways of genuine engagement, profound insight, and transformative growth.
The journey with LEGO® in coaching has only just begun, but its potential is boundless.
Enhancing LSP: Why Advanced Training Online can Work for You!
In today’s fast-paced coaching realm, standing still equates to moving backward. The success of the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method hasn’t been accidental.
A significant part of its efficacy stems from the ongoing advanced training programme offered to facilitators.
Training providers such as Play4Business ensure that the curriculum remains relevant, addressing contemporary business and team challenges.
Advanced Training and Business Challenges: Beyond the foundational knowledge of LSP, advanced training delves into navigating intricate business challenges.
Facilitators are trained to design sessions tailored to specific organizational needs.
Whether it’s a startup grappling with scaling issues or a multinational addressing cultural integration, the LSP method, enriched by advanced training, offers bespoke solutions.
Online Training and Accessibility: The digital age has democratized learning. Recognizing this, we offer online training modules for LSP.
These modules, which rely on the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method available under creative commons licenses as well as our own unique bespoke content, allow for wider dissemination of knowledge, ensuring that budding facilitators across the globe have access to world-class resources.
The fusion of tactile LEGO® methods with digital training creates a holistic learning ecosystem.
Addressing Team Challenges: Every team is unique, with its distinct dynamics, strengths, and challenges.
Advanced training equips facilitators to decode these nuances, ensuring that LSP sessions are not generic but are tailored to address specific team challenges, thereby enhancing business performance.
And when we talk about the team we also mean group coaching to achieve specific outcomes to improve business performance.
The LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method, underpinned by rigorous training and a commitment to achieving learning outcomes, promises not just to remain relevant but to lead the charge in innovative coaching solutions.
As business landscapes evolve, so does LSP, always ready to address the next challenge, always prepared to turn bricks into breakthroughs.
