Active team development is more important today than ever. Home office, mobile working and spatially separated teams are not new forms of work per se, but their spread has increased significantly. Under these conditions, managers have to find new ways to deal with topics such as teamTo actively manage culture, creative cooperation or the early recognition of potential conflicts. Creative workshop formats such as LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® make a valuable and proven contribution here.
Was ist LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®?
LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) is a innovative Workshop-Methode, in which the participants bring their thoughts, ideas and imaginations to life “hands on” in the form of small 3D models. LEGO® sets specially developed for this purpose are used to promote creativity.
Each LSP workshop begins with a short, three-step Skill Building, to prepare the participants to work on the actual question. The selected question is then “answered” by building individual models. These individual models are shared with the group, reflected on and finally brought together in a group model. If external influencing factors are also to be considered, the so-called system model can be developed as a further step. Each of these phases goes through – guided by the LSP Facilitator – the cycle of building, sharing and reflecting. The result is a model that symbolizes the common understanding of the challenge under investigation.
Phases of a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshop, Source: CONET
In addition to the team-oriented issues related to values, identity, cooperation and communication that are the focus here, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is also suitable for other tasks. The possible uses range from support in the development of goals, visions and strategies to creative idea generation to the analysis of stakeholder perspectives, external influencing factors or opportunities and risks.
Depending on the concrete workshop goals, the selection or formulation of the appropriate question is of great importance. It is also important that the workshop results are also taken into account in subsequent steps and that the employees effectiveness their participation becomes visible.
Examples of LSP models, source: CONET
The benefits of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
No two teams are the same and no one knows the conditions, influencing factors and functionality of a specific system better than the team itself. Successful team development therefore requires individual solutions that tap into the existing knowledge and potential of the individual team members. LSP workshops score here with their participatory character – without barriers to entry become all team members active and at eye level involved and thus integrate different perspectives and experiences. This creates one of all shared understanding the challenge under study.
The playful character of the method and the “touching” of the ideas promote the creativity and take care of smooth and engaging workshop experience. The early involvement of the affected employees also sensitizes them to the examined fields of action, increases the acceptance and identification with the results obtained and thus increases the chance of sustainable success in the implementation phase.
Benefits of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, Source: CONET
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Sven Morgenstern works in the “Strategy Management” department for the CONET group of companies.
Source: https://www.conet.de/blog/team-entwicklung-mit-lego-serious-play/
