The second of a series of posts answering the question “What is the magic behind Lego Serious Play?”.
The Magic of Lego Serious Play 2) The Power of Metaphors
“The metaphor is probably the most fertile power possessed by man” Jose Ortega y Gasset – Spanish liberal philosopher – 1883 – 1955
Can you express how you feel today in words?
Now, close your eyes and think of an image or an object that represents how you feel today. Easy isn’t it? I’m sure that you can easily describe what you are thinking of so that I can easily understand it (and possibly even draw it for me). I could ask more questions about the image or object you are thinking of and as I do so, you might change or clarify some of the details as the concept becomes clearer to us both.
These are two ways of asking (and responding to) the same question. However, doing so using a metaphor greatly enriches the process and gives us the freedom to be more creative. Also linking two things that on the surface have nothing to do with each other allows us to explore it from a different and more creative perspective.
Whether it be in training, in strategy meetings or in brainstorming sessions, when we use Lego bricks in a Lego Serious Play workshop, 99% of the time we are working with metaphors and we are doing this in a natural, intuitive and playful way. The questions posed, the facilitation and the bricks themselves all invite the natural use of metaphors. This key aspect of the methodology guarantees different results and is part of the magic.
To finish up, how many meanings do you think you can you give to this Lego brick?
In Lego Serious Play workshops I have seen this brick come to represent such differing concepts as bravery, emotions, urgency, objectives, love, compassion, reward, destiny, god etc…
The Lego Serious Play methodology is the perfect tool for freeing our minds, allowing us to explore difficult concepts via metaphors and for facilitating creative communication.
A while ago during a Lego Serious Play demo someone asked me: “What is the magic behind Lego Serious Play?”.
It’s a good question and over the coming week or so I am going to try to explain it in a series of short articles dealing with specific aspects of this “magic”.
The Magic of Lego Serious Play 1) “Trust the bricks. The answer is there!”
I know it sounds strange. Perhaps even a little esoteric – perhaps even “Jedi-like”. It is however true. Let me explain.
One of the phrases a Lego Serious Play facilitator uses a lot is “don’t have a meeting with yourself – build!”. Normally when asked a question that requires some degree of reflection we stop, think and then respond verbally. The process repeats itself thousands of time throughout each day. Sometimes we think more, sometimes we think less but the process is natural and so frequent that we almost always tap into our brains via the same route. That means that the possibility of theanswer being conditioned by a specific way of thinking is very high.
With Lego Serious Play we stop this traditional way of thinking and we make participants touch the bricks to find the answer. Our brains of course keep thinking. It would be impossible to turn off that process. However, when that thought process is combined with looking at and touching Lego bricks of different colours, shapes and sizes (bricks that have been specially chosen so we can easily converted them into metaphors), the bricks themselves inspire thoughts and answers. You see brick in front of you, you touch it, you try to link it to the question, you combine it with more and more bricks and before you know it, you have used your hands and your brain together to build the answer in a model. In doing this you are drawing on a different part of your brain – a more creative and visual side. This can be the difference between a normal idea and a brilliant idea. It can be the difference between a conditioned and rehearsed personal reflection and one that is more honest and free of judgement.
It doesn’t stop there. After building, when participants tell their story and describe the model, the process continues. Talking about the bricks and the model is like going over your thoughts again and almost always participants find new meaning to what they have built and adapt their story. Bricks that at first had no meaning take one on now and others change from one idea to another. All this because the brain is still being inspired visually (and now enhanced because we are in story telling mode – another part of the magic).
It doesn’t stop there. When others ask questions about a model and what they see, this provokes another round of reflection in the person who built it and many participants end up finding new meanings and metaphors. Many make changes to their models at this stage.
To clarify -we don’t use Lego bricks or Lego Serious Play to analyse how people think. It is an incredibly visual and creative way of provoking alternative thought and as a result it yields different answers.
Without a doubt, part of its magic lies in trusting the bricks”.
Del 15 al 21 abril se celebra la Semana Mundial de Creatividad y Innovación. La oportunidad perfecta para presentar, compartir y promover ideas y conceptos relacionados con la innovación y la creatividad. Eso lo puedes hacer de la manera que quieres; en casa, con tu hijos, en tu trabajo, con clientes, con compañeros etc. Lo más importante es hacer algo!
Considiom va aportar su grano con sesiones de prueba / presentaciones de la Metodología Lego Serious Play. Arrancamos el martes 17 con los socios de Hub Madrid en sus instalaciones (evento co-creado por el HUB Madrid exclusivo para miembros).
Además tenemos más presentaciones y sesiones de prueba con responsables de RRHH y Formación en distintas empresas aquí en Madrid.
Como es la Semana Mundial de Creatividad y Innovación, abrimos las puertas a cualquier otro colectivo o empresa en Madrid que quiere saber más de Lego Serious Play. Solo hace falta mandarnos un correo electrónico y lo vamos organizando: Info@considiom.com
15th to the 21st of April is World Creativity and Innovation Week. The perfect opportunity to present, share and promote all ideas and concepts related to the world of innovation and creativity. You can do this whatever way you choose: at home, with your children, en work, with clients, with colleagues etc… The most important thing is to do something!
Considiom is going to do its bit by arranging demos and presentations of the Lego Serious Play methodology. We kick off on Tuesday with a demo to the members of Hub Madrid (exclusive to members). Later on in the week we have more in-company demos with HR staff from several companies in Madrid.
Given the week that is in it, we open our doors to any other company or collective in Madrid who want to know more about Lego Serious Play. Just drop us a line at info@considiom.com we will take it from there. Trying something different couldn’t be easier!
Just like any olive tree can produce olives, we are all creative and we are all capable of coming up with innovative and creative ideas in our work.
An olive tree needs a solid base, sun and nourishment. People need both an innovative and creative work environment and sources of inspiration.
Olives grow and ripen but they don’t always fall where and when we want them to fall. To get a full harvest we need to shake the tree. People too hold on to creative thoughts and ideas and in order to get a full harvest, there are many tricks and tools that we can use to shake their creative tree.
After a successful harvest there is a full selection process that ensures that only the best olives make it to the premium products. Likewise, great ideas can only succeed if there is a full selection process that correctly identifies and exploits their potential.
Does your company nurture and encourage creativity and innovation like it should? Do you consistently shake the tree or do allow potentially great ideas to ripen on the tree, dry out and fall to the ground unnoticed?
