Playfully Identify What Matters

This post was written by our sponsor Laura Delavie, Chief Alchemist, ALCEMIS, LLC.

“Wicked” questions. Resolving conflicts. Working through change. Building shared meaning. Culture shifts. New ideas. Improved solutions.

In all cases, what’s really wanted or needed? How do you know? How many wicked or sticky questions do you find difficult to address because of their complexity or because emotions run high? How do you define goals? How do you define what success looks like?

To get at real needs and wants, we need to begin by asking: What matters? How might we create value?

Part of the difficulty in getting at these answers is that people often find it hard to articulate their true wants and needs. Getting at core wants and needs is like peeling back an onion – they are often buried under layers of masks, fears, “could-a-would-a-should-a,” image, and politics.

Imagine a tool that helps you get at these answers while being engaging, sparking creativity, and revealing deep insights that you don’t often get with a pure question and answer approach. It’s playful too. Yes, playful! In life, business, and organizations, we need more play. Are you thinking, “Shhhh. Play is considered a waste of time.”?

Actually, play engages us. It connects us, releases our creativity, engages us emotionally, builds trust, and encourages our best. When we enjoy what we do, we are engaged and happy. It is easier to move into a state of flow, a state of high performance, a state of being more authentic, and a state of designing exceptional products, services, and experiences.

Get at What Matters with the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Methodology

That tool you’ve been imaging exists. LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) was developed out of a connection in the mid-90s between the CEO of The LEGO® Group and Lausanne, Switzerland based IMD business school professors. Through conversation, they discovered a common dilemma – the lack of excellent strategy development techniques. In 1999, Robert Rasmussen of LEGO’s education group began robust development on the methodology of LEGO SERIOUS PLAY, which was launched in 2001.

The LEGO SERIOUS PLAY method is a useful tool to use with “serious” concerns, like:

• Uncovering real wants and needs
• Aligning on shared meaning, vision, and strategies
• Creating strategies rooted in shared insights
• Generating new ideas for innovative solutions
• Testing scenarios and prototypes
• Building confidence and commitment to action
• Exploring identities, beliefs, and assumptions
• Designing organization and culture change
• Resolving conflicts

For more information about how the LEGO SERIOUS PLAY method has been applied to personal and business issues, reach out to Laura Delavie or give her a call at 952-232-5264.