Why LEGO® Serious Play® is the Future of Coaching and Facilitation
In a world where traditional coaching and facilitation methods often rely on conversations, worksheets, and frameworks, a new, innovative approach is gaining momentum: LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP). This hands-on, experiential methodology is revolutionizing the way coaches, facilitators, and L&D professionals engage their clients. By leveraging the power of metaphor, storytelling, and kinesthetic learning, LSP is unlocking deeper insights and fostering more meaningful conversations.
If you're a leadership coach, executive coach, team coach, group coach, facilitator, or instructional designer, this approach could be the game-changer that takes your practice to the next level. In this article, we'll explore why LEGO® Serious Play® is the future of coaching and facilitation, backed by real-world applications and research.
What is LEGO® Serious Play®?
LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP) is a facilitated meeting, communication, and problem-solving method in which participants build LEGO models to represent their thoughts, ideas, and challenges. This method is designed to enhance creative thinking, engagement, and clarity by making abstract concepts tangible.
Originally developed in the 1990s by LEGO® in collaboration with business consultants and psychologists, LSP is now used worldwide by leaders, educators, and facilitators to drive breakthrough insights in leadership development, team alignment, and strategic thinking.
The Science Behind LEGO® Serious Play®
LSP is rooted in several scientific and psychological principles:
Constructivism & Constructionism – Learning happens when individuals create something external to themselves, helping them process abstract ideas in a concrete way.
Embodied Cognition – Thinking is not just a function of the brain; it involves the whole body. Hands-on learning stimulates neural connections, making insights more profound and memorable.
Metaphorical Thinking – The use of LEGO bricks allows individuals to express complex ideas through metaphors, leading to deeper self-awareness and group understanding.
Why LEGO® Serious Play® is Transforming Coaching & Facilitation
1. Moves Beyond Words to Unlock Deeper Insights
Traditional coaching and facilitation often rely heavily on dialogue, but not all thoughts are easily articulated in words. LSP provides a non-verbal, creative avenue for individuals to express complex emotions, ideas, and challenges through visual representation.
For example, an executive coach working with a leader struggling with decision-making paralysis might ask them to build a model of their ideal decision-making process. Through this exercise, the leader can externalize their inner thought process and uncover blind spots they hadn't recognized before.
2. Engages All Learning Styles
Different people process information in different ways. LEGO® Serious Play® caters to multiple learning styles:
Visual learners process information through the model-building process.
Kinesthetic learners engage by physically manipulating bricks.
Auditory learners benefit from the storytelling and explanation of their models.
This inclusivity makes LSP a powerful tool in group settings where diverse individuals may struggle with traditional discussion-based methods.
3. Enhances Psychological Safety & Inclusive Conversations
One of the biggest challenges in group coaching and facilitation is ensuring that all voices are heard. LSP creates a structured environment where everyone builds and shares, leading to more equitable participation.
For example, in a team coaching session, rather than dominant voices taking over, each participant builds their response to a question like “What does a successful team look like?” This ensures diverse perspectives are surfaced without bias or hierarchy.
4. Stimulates Creativity & Breakthrough Thinking
LSP encourages out-of-the-box thinking by engaging the right and left hemispheres of the brain simultaneously. This is particularly valuable in coaching and facilitation when tackling complex, ambiguous, or stuck challenges.
For instance, a facilitator running an innovation workshop might ask participants to build “a future version of their company” with LEGO®. This physical representation often leads to more creative and bold ideas than traditional brainstorming alone.
5. Creates Lasting Impact & Retention
Research shows that people retain more information when they are actively engaged. The “learning by doing” approach of LSP ensures that insights stick with participants long after the session ends.
A leadership coach working with emerging leaders might use LSP to explore personal leadership values. The physical models they create serve as visual anchors, making it easier to remember key takeaways and apply them in real-world situations.
Real-World Applications of LEGO® Serious Play® in Coaching & Facilitation
LSP can be applied across multiple domains in coaching and facilitation. Here are a few examples:
Executive Coaching: Helping leaders visualise and articulate their leadership style.
Team Coaching: Strengthening team dynamics and alignment through collaborative model-building.
Leadership Development: Exploring values, strengths, and blind spots.
Strategic Planning Workshops: Helping organizations clarify their vision and strategy.
Conflict Resolution: Enabling individuals to express difficult emotions and viewpoints non-verbally.
How to Get Started with LEGO® Serious Play®
If you're a coach or facilitator looking to integrate LSP into your practice, here’s how you can get started:
Take a Certified LEGO® Serious Play® Training – Learn the methodology and facilitation techniques through a structured training program.
Experiment with Simple Exercises – Start with low-risk scenarios, such as using LSP in a team-building session.
Gather Feedback & Refine Your Approach – Observe participant reactions and refine your facilitation techniques accordingly.
At The Brick Coach, we offer a comprehensive online LEGO® Serious Play® training tailored for coaches, facilitators, and L&D professionals. Learn how to apply this powerful methodology in your practice from anywhere in the world.
Conclusion
As coaching and facilitation continue to evolve, LEGO® Serious Play® is emerging as a transformative methodology that engages participants in new and profound ways. By moving beyond words, fostering creativity, and ensuring equal participation, LSP is not just a tool—it's a game-changer for coaches, facilitators, and L&D professionals looking to make a deeper impact.
Whether you’re coaching executives, facilitating team workshops, or designing innovative learning experiences, LSP can help you unlock breakthroughs, drive engagement, and leave a lasting impact.
Ready to explore how LEGO Serious Play can enhance your coaching or facilitation practice?
