Networking For Change: Make networking more meaningful with LEGO Serious Play

The Lego Serious Play methodology is a unique approach to group facilitation that emphasises PLAY as a key ingredient in fostering creativity, collaboration, and learning. The benefits of using this methodology in group settings are well-documented and include improved communication, higher levels of engagement, and greater innovation. In addition, the Lego Serious Play methodology has been shown to provide a sense of fun and enjoyment for participants, which can help to keep them coming back for more. If you’re looking for a fresh way to engage your team or group, consider giving the Lego Serious Play methodology a try – you might be surprised at the results!

In November 2020 we held our first official HCN event, Networking For Change, for 20 young changemakers across Brisbane to come together and build our networks, to facilitate collaboration between and across like-minded organisations or individuals working at the “intersections” of various issue areas, and transition to being more networked changemakers.

While we were all meeting changemakers working in different areas and building our own connections, together, we were finding solutions to the question: how can we build networks to catalyse change by embracing collaboration and nurturing the next-generation of leaders?

Networking can be daunting, even for the most confident of us, so we facilitated un-networky networking activities so people didn’t just have to approach people and navigate any awkward conversations. Our main activity was a round-table “discussion” facilitated by LEGO Serious Play.

The LEGO Serious Play methodology is a process designed to help individuals and groups think creatively, solve problems, and improve communication. The process begins with each participant being given a set of LEGO bricks. They are then asked to build a model that represents their view of the problem or situation at hand. Once all the models have been built, the group discusses their creations and how they relate to the issue at hand. The LEGO Serious Play methodology is an effective way to encourage creative thinking, improve communication, and solve problems.

All LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® team building exercises are built around the following framework:

1. Facilitator asks a question.
2. Build your answer and give meaning to a LEGO® model.
3. Tell and share a story about your LEGO® model.
4. Ask questions and reflect as a group.

The two questions we asked were: (1) Who are you, and why do you do what you do? and (2) What do you think is the biggest barrier that is hindering your impact in the work you do, and what could help you be better?

Some of the key ideas and messages that came up in the discussions were:

• Connection with others is important, and knowing how to tackle feeling isolated
• Big corporations, power inequality, and working against the system were key barriers one group identified for young people
• Other common barriers for young people are self-confidence, believing in oneself as a young person, and expectations/assumptions based on age, or from family and friends
• Knowledge: “not knowing what I need to do or who I need to be involved with to get to where I want to go”
• How to channel dissatisfaction
• One group identified income as a barrier for those in the social change space, while another said that money and funding make it difficult to pursue projects
• It’s frustrating that other young people “aren’t interested in politics,” and have an unwillingness to learn about topics that make them uncomfortable

Since the early 1990s, Lego Serious Play has been used as a tool to help businesses and organisations unlock creativity, solve problems, and promote teamwork. The methodology is based on the simple idea that people can learn best by doing. Through hands-on building and storytelling, participants are able to express themselves in a way that is more natural and less constrained than traditional methods like brainstorming. The first step in a Lego Serious Play session is for each participant to create their own unique mini-figure. This helps to break the ice and get everyone comfortable with the material. From there, participants construct models that represent their ideas, experiences, or point of view on a particular topic. The final step is to share and discuss these models with the group. By exploring different perspectives and working together to find creative solutions, Lego Serious Play can help participants to develop a deeper understanding of both themselves and others.

This was the first time we had used LEGO Serious Play in our own work, and we were pleasantly surprised at how much it allowed people to open up and connect with people on a deeper level than generic networking conversations, by being able to build metaphors and meaning into their creations. With vegan refreshments, champagne flowing all night, three separate rooms and a pool table, Networking For Change was also a chance for young changemakers to come together and take a break, relax and have fun following the months of COVID lock-downs.

If you’re looking for a fun and unique way to network, Legos Serious Play is a great option! This activity is based on the idea that playing with Legos can help adults facilitate creative problem-solving.