LSP Agile Podcast
w Brandon Wetzstein
Breaking Down Communication Barriers: How LEGO® Serious Play® Transforms Team Dynamics
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Martijn about the power of LEGO® Serious Play® methodology in transforming how teams communicate and collaborate. Here are the key insights from our conversation.
The Unique Power of Play in Professional Settings
Play has always been part of my personality, but early in my retail management career, I discovered something crucial: when you make learning fun and playful, people absorb information better. This became the foundation for everything I do with teams.
The challenge is that many adults have been conditioned to believe play is childish or unprofessional. Yet research consistently shows that playful environments create the psychological safety necessary for genuine collaboration and innovation.
Why LEGO® Serious Play® Works Where Traditional Meetings Fail
Traditional team discussions face multiple barriers:
Hierarchy effects - Junior team members defer to senior voices
Introvert/extrovert imbalances - The loudest voices dominate while quieter insights go unheard
Competition for airtime - People fight to get their ideas heard
Fear of judgment - Team members self-censor to avoid looking foolish
LEGO® Serious Play® methodology neutralizes these dynamics through what I call "leveling the playing field." Whether you're the CEO or an entry-level employee, everyone has the same LEGO bricks and the same opportunity to express their thinking through building and storytelling.
When to Use LSP (And When Not To)
Use LSP when:
There's no single "right" answer
You need everyone's voice and perspective
Complex challenges require diverse insights
Teams need to navigate change or uncertainty
Don't use LSP when:
There's a clear, predetermined answer
Leadership wants buy-in for their predetermined solution
The goal is information delivery rather than discovery
As one client put it: "If you're the smartest person in the room, get out. This isn't the right tool."
The Data Volume Advantage
One of LSP's most powerful aspects is what I call "insights per unit of time." In a recent workshop about strategic risks, 30 participants generated over 120 distinct insights in just 20 minutes through building and sharing their models.
Compare this to a traditional discussion where maybe 8 people would speak, half the room stays silent, and you get repetitive responses. The volume and nuance of information LSP generates is extraordinary.
Real-World Impact: The Marketing Agency Case Study
I recently worked with a 30-person marketing agency navigating organizational changes. The leadership team knew something wasn't quite right—there was a "hitch" in how the team was functioning, but they couldn't pinpoint it.
Through a three-hour LSP session, we didn't solve every problem (that wasn't the goal). Instead, we created space for everyone to share how they were feeling about the changes and what support they needed. The post-session survey showed 100% of participants felt heard, and insights emerged that never would have surfaced in a traditional meeting.
Months later, team members still reference the models they built and the conversations that emerged from them. This lasting impact demonstrates LSP's power to create memorable, meaningful shared experiences.
The Business Owner's Learning Curve
When I first became certified in LSP, I thought I could solve every communication problem in the world. Like many facilitators, I "drank from the fire hose" and wanted to tackle complex, full-day strategic workshops immediately.
The breakthrough came when I focused on something simpler: my 90-minute team building workshop that helps colleagues truly know each other beyond their job titles. This session creates genuine connection by revealing the depth and dimension of who people are outside of work.
Initially, I resisted this approach because it seemed too simple. But I've learned that LEGO® Serious Play® might be the most powerful team building method available because it creates authentic psychological safety and trust—the foundation for all effective collaboration.
Overcoming Client Skepticism
The biggest objection I hear is predictable: "We're going to use toys to solve business problems?"
Some leaders immediately see the value and want it to work. Others are more cautious, worried about bringing something that might appear frivolous to their team. The key is demonstrating that this isn't just "fun team building"—it's a sophisticated communication methodology that generates business results.
Success comes from identifying the specific problem LSP will solve, then positioning the methodology as the solution rather than leading with "we use LEGO bricks."
The Neuroscience Behind the Magic
During our conversation, Martin shared fascinating research about how metaphors affect brain function. When we tell or listen to metaphors, our frontal cortex—the part constantly analyzing and judging—quiets down. This creates space for more authentic sharing and listening.
The hand-brain connection is equally powerful. When we build while thinking, we activate neural pathways that unlock subconscious knowledge and reduce the filters that typically limit our communication.
Key Advice for New LSP Facilitators
Slow down to speed up. The biggest mistake new facilitators make is trying to solve everything with LSP without first deeply understanding the specific problem they're addressing.
Your success depends on identifying the exact pain point your client experiences and articulating it in their language. LSP is incredibly powerful, but it's a methodology—not the solution itself.
Take time to really understand the problem. Make sure it matches what your clients are experiencing. Once you have that clarity, LSP can create remarkable transformations.
The Bottom Line
Organizations lose trillions annually to communication failures and project breakdowns. Much of this waste stems from group dynamics that prevent the best ideas from surfacing and the right voices from being heard.
LEGO® Serious Play® offers a proven methodology to break through these barriers, generate unprecedented insights, and create the psychological safety teams need to perform at their highest level.
The question isn't whether you can afford to try LSP. The question is whether you can afford to continue leaving your team's best thinking on the table.
Want to experience how LEGO® Serious Play® can transform your team's communication and collaboration? Contact IN8 Create to explore workshop options tailored to your specific challenges.
