5 reasons why play helps change stick
In innovation, there’s a huge emphasis on collaboration. Rightly so. The best ideas are rarely created in a vacuum by a lone genius (sorry Steve and Elon, you’re the outliers here). And even if they are the product of one lone genius, it takes an army of dedicated hard working team players to bring ideas to life.
I’ve spent the last 15 years helping clients figure out what to do next. I’ve done it the old school way, with in-depth market research, trend forecasting, and solid financial modelling. I’ve done it the super lean way in design sprints. And I’ve done it with LEGO® Serious Play®.
And I have found that one often overlooked but powerful tool for fostering creativity, especially for more corporate clients, is play. When I tell a client we’re going to be playing with LEGO® for the day, I often get a raised eyebrow and a chuckle. I’m lucky to have the opportunity to work with some incredible clients who actually trust me to do that, and the results always speak for themselves. Even early on in LEGO® Serious Play® workshops, I hear things like “wow, that’s like therapy”, “that’s way deeper than I thought”, and “you mean I could do anything I want, no constraints at all?”
Play is an essential part of the creative process and can help to generate new ideas, improve problem-solving skills, and increase overall productivity. Adding LEGO® Serious Play® into the mix adds a healthy dose of fun and open communication.
Here are a few ways in which incorporating LEGO® Serious Play®, and play based methods more broadly, have helped clients innovate at speeds they’d never thought would be possible:
They encourage experimentation and risk-taking
In a playful environment, people feel more comfortable taking risks and experimenting with new ideas. Without the pressure of failure, they’re more likely to come up with unique and innovative solutions to fairly hairy issues. Don’t like the concept you just built? Take the bricks out and try it again! Nothing is set in stone, and that flexibility gives clients endless possibilities to explore without putting too much pressure on themselves to get things “right”.
They promote teamwork and collaboration
Play based sessions and LEGO® Serious Play® workshops promote teamwork and collaboration among colleagues. They’re a powerful way to bridge gaps between individuals and teams, especially those who don’t work together on a regular basis. This helps create a sense of community and encourages individuals to share their ideas and perspectives with one another. The level of trust and vulnerability that some workshops I’ve led have created amongst teams has been a game changer in the way they operate on a day to day basis.
They create an open and relaxed environment
Play can be a great stress-reliever, it can help to take the pressure off, and create a more relaxed and comfortable environment. When individuals feel less stressed, they’re more likely to be open to new ideas and perspectives, they’re more willing to be silly and take risks, they’re more engaged and happy to speak their minds. It’s also hard to sulk or be annoyed when everyone else around you is having fun, so the cynics in the room tend to come around quite quickly!
They flatten hierarchies and bring people out of their shell
In more hierarchical environments, and in corporate settings quite often, it’s hard for more junior team members to speak up and express themselves. The very nature of LEGO® Serious Play® sessions encourages everyone to have an opinion, to build their own individual models before sharing openly with the group, and to collaborate with everyone else as equals to build a shared model. I’ve seen super junior team members express tough and emotional opinions around the culture of their company, introverts come up with brilliant solutions to complex strategic problems, and super senior leaders listen to what their teams have to say.
They help develop or strengthen new skills
LEGO® Serious Play® workshops help individuals and teams to develop new skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication. These skills are essential for coming up with creative ideas and innovative solutions. They give everyone an opportunity to look at a challenge from different angles, to explore different solutions when needed, and to communicate in a more visual way that engages the rest of the group.
The result of this level of engagement is a sense of ownership, a sense of commitment to making change happen and a desire to want to keep the change going. When individuals and teams have literally built the future and seen it come to life, they become deeply committed to see it come true.
I’ve had clients keep the models they’ve built on their desk as a constant reminder of what they’re thriving for, and have had teams refer to specific parts of a shared models months after a workshop had taken place. That sense of play not only engages everyone in the workshop itself, but keeps them going long after their models are built.
Interested in seeing how it works? Drop us a line to arrange a taster session for you or for your team.
