The Lego Serious Play Method

The LEGO SERIOUS PLAY ® ®
Method
• deeper and broader in less time
• faster and better decisions
• more effective meetings for everyone
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is a facilitated meeting, communication and problem-solving

method, where participants are led through a series of questions, which go deeper
and deeper. Each participant builds his or her own three-dimensional LEGO model
in response to the facilitator’s questions using specially selected LEGO bricks. These
3D models serve as the basis for group discussion, knowledge sharing, problem
solving and decision-making.
Rasmussen Consulting specializes in using the Robert Rasmussen is principal, chief facilitator
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methodology to bridge and master trainer. A former employee of LEGO,
and harvest organization’s collective intelligence he is the main architect of the LEGO® SERIOUS
to improve decision-making. PLAY® method.
When is it a good idea to use the
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Method?
Purpose
It is a good idea to use the LSP method if it is important:
that everyone is able to contribute her or his knowledge and opinions on a
level playing field
that the meeting includes honest dialog and collaborative communication
that no one participant dominates at the expense of others, for example,
by pursuing a personal agenda
Subject
It is a good idea to use the LSP method when:
the subject is complex and multifaceted, and there are no clear answers
there is a need to grasp the big picture, see connections and explore
various options and potential solutions
the participants are diverse in age, professional background or training
(engineering and marketing, for example), or organizational status
Result
It is a good idea to use the LSP method if it is important:
to make decisions that everyone commits to and honors after the meeting,
even though s/he does not agree 100% with everything
to make sure there are no excuses or lack of initiative after the meeting
because participants feel they were not heard nor involved in the decision
to give all participants a common understanding and frame of reference
that will impact their work together after the meeting
With the LEGO SERIOUS PLAY approach the results are “lean forward meetings”. This means more
participation, more insights, more knowledge, more engagement and, ultimately, more commitment
and faster implementation.
why is the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
Method effective?
1: In LEGO SERIOUS PLAY (LSP), the LEGO bricks serve as a common language
that anyone can use, regardless of their education, position or culture. This
ensures that everybody’s knowledge and insights are surfaced
2: The starting focus in LSP is on each individual

and not the group. This means that the structure
of the process requires everyone to be actively
involved in the decision process, which
increases the probability that all parties will
honor the decisions and agreements after
the meeting
3: The LSP method produces more concrete ideas and results, because
everyone has time to build her or his answers and input before conversation
and knowledge sharing begin
4: The LSP method ensures faster and better communication and understanding
because it uses 3D visualization, metaphors and stories. This also leads to
fewer misunderstandings
5: LSP meetings stay on topic because the focus is on the bricks – not on the
person. This also allows the discussion to become very intense without
creating personal conflicts
The company that created this model believed they had a

unique new product invention (symbolized by the panda),
but it wasn’t selling. The LSP workshop uncovered the
root problem: The company was very proud of their
invention (the pink house), but afraid of copycats and,
thus, TOO protective (the panda is in a cage, fences
around, the team acting as guards). They could SEE the
customers (in the glass hut) and the customers could
SEE them, but the two couldn’t communicate. Once
understanding the root problem the marketing department
played “what-if games” (scenario testing) i.e. What if we
remove the guards? What if we remove the fences? By playing out the consequences, the
company was able to decide the best way to get the panda outside of the protected envi-
ronment and into the hands of customers.
Did you know that: (Interesting facts about meetings)
“All brainstorming studies since the 1950s show that groups which brainstorm together produce far fewer
ideas than when the same number of people work alone and then pool their ideas – and the bigger the group
the greater the difference.”
“Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon have found that when people mentally
prepare for a task and play with the available decision options, they activate the part of the brain which makes
non-routine decisions. If you have played with ideas regarding what you will do if a given situation arises, your
decision making will be better and faster than if you have not played through the various scenarios and options
in advance.”
“Since the 1970s, researchers have known that people vastly prefer to use visual and spatial
approaches to solving problems. When we use this way of thinking, we are more creative than when we use
words and concepts. When we can play with combining visual images and physical objects, we find it easier
and are faster at coming up with ideas which are surprising and different and have unexpected qualities.”
“In 2007, Canon in Europe carried out a study in 18 European countries to identify elements which can trigger
anger and stress among office employees in European companies. There are naturally a number of things which
can be a source of intense office frustration, but long futile meetings topped the scales in all countries.”
How to get LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®

Rasmussen Consulting provides services associated with the LEGO SERIOUS PLAY methodology
globally either directly or through our extended network of partners.
main offices
Rasmussen Consulting – USA Rasmussen Consulting – Europe Rasmussen Consulting – Japan

42 North Main Street, Unit 50 Ramsherred 12 Bancho Heim 334 1-2 Nibanchou
West Hartford, CT 06107 USA DK - 5610 Assens, Denmark Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0084 JAPAN
Tel: +1 860 656 8190 Tel: +45 27642350 Tel: 81-(0)90-8179-5757
robert@rasmussenconsulting.dk robert@rasmussenconsulting.dk takhas.rraj@gmail.com
www.rasmussenconsulting.dk www.rasmussenconsulting.dk www.seriousplay.jp
Partners
United States United States Latin America Singapore and China
S & D Global Partners Bryant & Associates, LLC Juego Serio Consulting Legogel Education
20 Grove Place 4060 Peachtree Road, Suite D413 Buenos Aires-Argentina Centre Pte Ltd
Winchester, MA 01890 USA Atlanta, GA 30319 USA Tel: +5411 4-782 9459 Blk 78B, Telok Blangah St 32
Tel: +1 781 910 1921 Tel: +1 404 869 6312 Tel: + 54911-3267-7617 #03-04, Singapore 102078
Tel: +1 617 956 2930 success@bryantandassociates.com luciomargulis@juegoserio.com Tel: +65 9106 3228
donna@sdglobalpartners.com www.bryantandassociates.com www.juegoserio.com kris@legogel.com
www.sdglobalpartners.com www.legogel.com
train-the-trainer
Train-the-trainer certification courses in designing and facilitating meetings and programs

using the LSP methodology are also an option for using LSP at your company
LEGO and SERIOUS PLAY are trademarks of the LEGO Group, ©2011 The LEGO Group

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The LEGO SERIOUS PLAY ® ®

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is a facilitated meeting, communication and problem-solving

2: The starting focus in LSP is on each individual

The company that created this model believed they had a

How to get LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®

Rasmussen Consulting – USA Rasmussen Consulting – Europe Rasmussen Consulting – Japan

Train-the-trainer certification courses in designing and facilitating meetings and programs

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