At its core, LSP is not about creating intricate models; it’s a facilitated process where individuals use LEGO bricks to construct metaphors representing their thoughts and ideas.

Benefits of LSP

The power of play lies in its ability to help individuals make sense of and deconstruct abstract concepts and complex issues. LSP engages in story-making and storytelling through metaphor.

In a sense, LSP allows you to 3D print your mind, visually externalising your ideas, opinions and experiences. Having constructed your internal world, it becomes a conversation point, fostering engagement through storytelling.

Some key benefits of LSP include:

• Enhanced creativity: LSP encourages participants to think beyond conventional boundaries, tapping into their creative reserves. By constructing unique models that externalise perspectives, individuals gain the opportunity to view ideas from different angles, leading to the discovery of new connections and insights.
• Improved communication: The tactile nature of LSP facilitates non-verbal expression, effectively dismantling communication barriers. Engaging in metaphor and storytelling with others aids participants in making sense of their inner world for enhanced clarity while enabling others to understand their perspectives.
• Increased engagement: LSP’s hands-on, interactive nature ensures participants remain actively engaged and invested in the problem-solving process. This transformation of the typical meeting dynamic ensures that all participants contribute, unlocking the full potential of the meeting.

LSP applications

LSP can be applied to organisational, team, or personal development, accommodating groups as small as 2 individuals into the hundreds. Its global utilisation spans nearly every industry, serving organisations of any size, whether for-profit, non-profit or government.

LSP works best when its used to solve a complex problem, when there’s no right answer, and when everyone’s input and ownership.

Examples include:

• Organisational development: Addressing diverse perspectives, solving complex issues, facilitating cultural change, strategic thinking, and fostering value identification and vision development.
• Team development: Unlocking potential, bridging diversities, improving communication, fostering collaboration and cohesion, and enhancing mutual understanding.
• Personal development: Developing strategic thinking capabilities, career development planning, breaking habitual thinking, unlocking new knowledge, challenging constraints, and promoting self-discovery.

The method excels in tackling complex problems by encouraging diverse viewpoints and solutions, leading to co-created solutions, better quality outcomes, and greater ownership.

Case study

When facilitating an executive getaway for a successful organisation navigating a dynamic business landscape, our mission was to create an opportunity for the team to foster stronger connections and have some fun. As part of our packed agenda, we integrated a 2-hour LSP session, primarily focused on team development and broader organisational vision.

Keeping the LSP activity a surprise, participants received a clue in their welcome packs—a Minifigure. Upon arrival at the getaway location, they had the chance to swap Minifigures, considering these figures as their mascots throughout the retreat. The Minifigures introduced an unexpected sense of mystery. Initially met with scepticism, the LSP session captivated everyone by its conclusion, with each Minifigure now symbolising a unique part of their identity.

During the session, we divided the executives into two groups to ensure a balance of technical, functional and regional bases. We guided them through activities like building models representing themselves, and emphasising the strengths they bring to the team. Subsequently, the individual builds merged to form a shared vision representing the group’s collective aspirations. Each group presented their collaborative model to the other, creating a dynamic exchange.

The team’s diversity in background, culture, personality, and thought added to the LSP session’s resounding success. Serious individuals embraced child-like joy, fully engaging in the creative challenge and enthusiastically sharing the stories behind their builds and Minifigures. The experience fostered a deeper connection among team members and contributed to the overall success of the executive getaway.