Using LEGO® Serious Play® for Leadership Coaching: A Step-by-Step Guide

Leadership coaching has evolved significantly in recent years, with innovative methodologies emerging to foster deeper reflection, engagement, and problem-solving. One such methodology gaining traction is LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP)—a hands-on, experiential approach that helps leaders explore their values, challenges, and aspirations in a tangible way.

In this guide, we’ll explore how coaches can effectively use LEGO® Serious Play® in leadership coaching, providing a structured, step-by-step approach to facilitating transformative sessions.

Why Use LEGO® Serious Play® in Leadership Coaching?

LEGO® Serious Play® provides a powerful alternative to traditional coaching conversations by engaging leaders in metaphor, storytelling, and hands-on learning. Here’s why it works so well:

• Encourages deep reflection – Leaders externalise their thoughts, making abstract ideas more concrete.

• Enhances engagement – Using hands-on activities helps leaders break free from habitual thinking.

• Reveals subconscious insights – Metaphorical storytelling often uncovers hidden beliefs and values.

• Facilitates strategic thinking – Leaders can prototype and visualise future scenarios.

By incorporating LSP into leadership coaching, facilitators can help clients develop clarity, self-awareness, and action-oriented strategies.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using LEGO® Serious Play® in Leadership Coaching

Step 1: Setting Up the Session

Before diving into model-building, ensure the session is structured for success:

• Define the coaching objective – What does the leader want to explore? Examples:

  • Understanding their leadership style

  • Navigating a career transition

  • Enhancing team communication

• Create a safe space – Emphasise that there are no right or wrong answers in LSP.

• Provide LEGO bricks – Use a mix of standard and specialised pieces to encourage creativity.

• Establish the ground rules – Encourage full engagement and storytelling through models.

Step 2: Warm-Up & Skill-Building

To familiarise the leader with LEGO Serious Play, start with simple exercises:

• Tower Challenge – Ask them to build a small tower in 60 seconds to introduce hands-on engagement.

• Metaphor Exploration – Have them build a model that represents "a great leader" and explain their choices.

These warm-ups help participants become comfortable using LEGO bricks to express thoughts and ideas.

Step 3: Core Leadership Coaching Exercises

Once the leader is comfortable, move into the main coaching exercises:

Exercise 1: Building Their Leadership Identity

• Ask: “Build a model that represents your leadership style.”

• Guide them to reflect on:

  • Strengths and weaknesses

  • Core values

  • How they influence and inspire others

• Discuss their model and help them identify patterns or gaps in their leadership approach.

Exercise 2: Navigating Leadership Challenges

• Ask: “Build a model of a current leadership challenge you are facing.”

• Encourage them to visualise obstacles and external factors.

• Use powerful coaching questions to help them interpret their model:

  • What do the elements represent?

  • How do they interact with each other?

  • What changes would improve the situation?

Exercise 3: Visioning the Future

• Ask: “Build a model of your ideal future as a leader.”

• Help them identify key themes:

  • How they want to be perceived as a leader

  • The impact they want to create

  • Steps needed to achieve this vision

Step 4: Reflection & Action Planning

To maximise the impact of the session, facilitate structured reflection:

• Summarise key insights – What were the biggest revelations from the models?

• Identify action steps – What will they do differently based on their learnings?

• Encourage ongoing development – How can they integrate these insights into their leadership journey?

Real-World Applications of LEGO® Serious Play® in Leadership Development

LSP is being widely used by executive coaches and leadership development professionals in various contexts:

• One-on-One Executive Coaching – Helping leaders clarify values and make strategic decisions.

• Leadership Retreats & Team Coaching – Enhancing collaboration and alignment.

• Succession Planning – Assisting emerging leaders in defining their future roles.

• Crisis Leadership & Resilience Coaching – Navigating challenges and uncertainty.

Getting Started with LEGO® Serious Play® in Your Coaching Practice

If you’re new to LEGO® Serious Play® and want to integrate it into your coaching practice, here’s how to begin:

1. Get Trained & Certified – Learning the methodology ensures you can facilitate sessions effectively.

2. Experiment with Simple Exercises – Start with warm-ups before progressing to deeper leadership topics.

3. Tailor Sessions to Individual Leaders – Adapt the exercises to each client's specific needs.

4. Blend with Other Coaching Techniques – Use LSP alongside traditional coaching frameworks for a well-rounded approach.

At The Brick Coach, we offer a comprehensive online LEGO® Serious Play® training designed for coaches, facilitators, and leadership development professionals. Learn how to use this transformative methodology from anywhere in the world.

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Conclusion

As leadership coaching evolves, LEGO® Serious Play® is proving to be an invaluable tool for driving deep reflection, strategic thinking, and creative problem-solving.

By integrating LSP into your coaching practice, you can help leaders gain clarity, confidence, and a tangible visionfor their future.

Ready to elevate your leadership coaching with LEGO® Serious Play®? Join our online training today!

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