Who knew a bag of LEGO® could help your team solve real work challenges?
If you think LEGO belongs only in a toy box (or on the floor waiting for a bare-footed victim), think again. LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP) is a hands-on method that helps teams explore ideas, tackle challenges, and communicate more clearly - all while having fun.
So, what is it?
LSP uses LEGO® bricks to build models representing challenges, goals, processes, or ways of working. It’s structured but open enough for everyone to contribute - even the quieter reflectors amongst us.
Why it works
When teams build together:
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Conceptual ideas become visual and tangible.
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Quiet voices are heard.
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Discussions are more open, creative, and inclusive.
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Insights emerge that slides, meetings, or reports rarely reveal.
Why cross-department teams love it
Having participated in LSP myself, I can say conceptual ideas become tangible models, helping teams from engineering, sales, marketing, operations, HR and many more align. Collaboration, communication, and creativity shine in this workshop.
Think creativity isn’t your strength? You will be surprised! There’s no right or wrong way to take part, and every idea counts.
LSP also supports all learning styles — auditory, visual, kinaesthetic, and different approaches like theorist, activist, reflector, and pragmatist. Every team member can engage, contribute, and absorb insights in a way that suits them best.
Teams have used LSP to:
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Map customer journeys across departments.
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Explore process challenges affecting multiple teams.
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Co-create strategies for new product launches.
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Solve communication gaps between technical and non-technical teams.
This hands-on approach bridges “how we each work” with “how it all fits together.”
Guess what else? Yes, it’s fun!
Serious thinking is at the heart of LSP, but creativity, humour, and playfulness energise teams, spark fresh ideas, and keep discussions engaging even under tight deadlines. Play sparks learning - we absorb ideas faster when having fun. Why should that stop just because we’re adults?
Stepping away from the usual meeting room, building with a big bag of LEGO® bricks, and creating something together can open new ways to think, talk, and solve problems across teams. Sometimes, that’s exactly what a team needs.
Build your own experience
If your company is curious, why not build your own experience exclusively for your team? Book a LEGO® Serious Play® session with the IET on-site at your workplace or at the IET office in Stevenage. Contact our courses team at lsbookings@theiet.org for more information or speak with your IET account manager.
Watch our LSP Video to see this course in action and explore our full course catalogue here. Open your business to a new way of learning.
Over to you…
- Have you ever used something unconventional like LEGO, props, or creative tools, to solve a work challenge?
- What’s the most effective team-building activity you’ve experienced (or the worst!)?
- If you could visualise one work challenge in LEGO bricks, what would you build?