What if I told you that some of the best leadership insights you could ever discover are sitting in a box of LEGO® bricks? Sounds like fun, right? Well, welcome to LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP)—a powerful tool that takes the joy of building with LEGOs and combines it with leadership development, problem-solving, and team collaboration in ways you never thought possible!
Why LEGO® for Leadership?
When we think of LEGO®, we usually imagine colourful bricks scattered across a table, with castles, cars, or spaceships coming to life. But what if we use those same bricks to build ideas, strategies, or even leadership skills? LEGO® Serious Play® turns play into serious work, using hands-on, creative approaches to solve real-life challenges.
Here’s why it works: traditional meetings and brainstorming sessions tend to favour the loudest voices in the room. LSP, however, puts everyone on an equal playing field. With your hands busy building, you’re not just talking—you’re showing your thoughts and ideas through tangible models. Suddenly, abstract concepts like leadership, teamwork, and vision become something you can see, touch, and share.
How LEGO® Serious Play® Boosts Leadership
Creative Problem-Solving Forget dry PowerPoints and endless discussions—LSP lets leaders and their teams tap into creative thinking to solve complex problems. By physically building solutions with LEGO® bricks, participants unlock new perspectives and insights they may not have considered otherwise. Whether you’re strategising for the future or working through a team conflict, the process of building makes problem-solving more engaging and productive.
Clear Communication Leadership is about clear communication, and LEGO® Serious Play® is all about showing, not just telling. When you’re tasked with building a model that represents your vision or leadership style, you need to be clear in your thought process—and that clarity translates into better communication with your team. After all, if you can explain a complex idea using bricks, imagine how that will improve the way you explain it in the boardroom!
Building Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence is key to great leadership, and LEGO® Serious Play® taps into it by creating a shared, inclusive experience. As each person builds and shares their models, leaders gain insights into their team’s emotions, values, and concerns. The collaborative nature of the activity helps leaders develop empathy, which in turn strengthens trust and morale within their teams.
Fostering Team Collaboration What’s more fun (and effective) than having your team literally build a vision of success together? LSP brings out collaboration in a unique way—everyone’s hands are in the game, everyone’s voice is heard, and everyone contributes to the final outcome. This sense of shared ownership makes it easier for teams to align on goals and tackle challenges as one unified group.
Learning to Embrace Playfulness Leadership doesn’t have to be all serious business. In fact, some of the best breakthroughs happen when we let our guard down and embrace a playful mindset. LEGO® Serious Play® reminds leaders that play isn’t the opposite of work—it’s a powerful tool to think differently, reduce stress, and encourage innovation. Plus, who doesn’t feel a little more connected and creative when building with LEGOs?
A Real-Life Example: Building Strategy with LEGO® Bricks
Imagine your team is tasked with developing a new strategy for the upcoming year. Instead of staring at a whiteboard full of notes, you’re asked to build what success looks like for the company using LEGO® bricks. At first, the idea seems silly, but soon you find yourself deep in thought, crafting a model that represents growth, teamwork, and innovation.
One team member builds a tower to represent rising profits. Another adds pathways to show streamlined processes. Another person contributes a bridge, symbolising collaboration between departments. Suddenly, your team’s vision of success isn’t just theoretical—it’s right in front of you in brick form. As everyone explains their models, you gain fresh insights into each person’s perspective, sparking new ideas on how to reach your shared goals.
Ready to Build Your Leadership?
LEGO® Serious Play® isn’t just for kids or hobbyists—it’s a proven method for unlocking leadership potential and fostering team development. By allowing leaders and teams to think with their hands, communicate more clearly, and work together creatively, this playful approach builds stronger connections and solutions that last long after the workshop is over.
So, next time you’re thinking about how to develop your leadership skills or improve team dynamics, don’t just reach for a pen and notebook—grab some LEGO® bricks and start building something amazing!
Who knew that the secret to unlocking leadership potential was hiding in those colourful little bricks? Ready to get building? The possibilities are endless with LEGO® Serious Play®!