How to Build Strategy and Use OKRs with LSP

In today's fast-paced business world, organizations are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to stay ahead of the competition. One such approach is the LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP) method, which uses the playful and creative aspects of building with LEGO® bricks to develop and implement effective organizational strategies.

Let's explore the many benefits of using LSP to create strategic plans, as well as how the OKR framework can be used to bring these plans to life. From improving teamwork and creative thinking, to fostering a culture of innovation, LSP is quickly b

Lots of Lego Blocks

ecoming a popular tool for companies of all

sizes.

Building a Strategy with LSP

The first step in building a strategy with LSP is to create a clear problem statement. This statement should outline the challenge or opportunity the organization is facing, and it will serve as the basis for the rest of the workshop.

Some prompts we used previously:

"How would you envision the future of innovation in banking"

"Let's say we are meeting again in 2 years time. What would you say your organization be doing? With whom? How?"

"Imagine we are in Dec 1st 2028. What would the marketing team be doing?"

Next, participants use LEGO bricks to build models that represent their thoughts and ideas about the problem. This is an individual building exercise. No talking. Just use hands to build the vision for future.

The models participants create are then used to spark discussions and brainstorming sessions, which help participants build a shared understanding of the problem and potential solutions.

As the workshop progresses, participants build increasingly detailed models that represent their strategies for addressing the problem. This process allows participants to visualize their ideas and make them concrete, making it easier to identify potential weaknesses and make adjustments. Throughout the workshop, participants work together to refine their strategies and reach a shared understanding of the best path forward.

Strategies to OKRs

One effective way to ensure your strategies are realized is by using the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) framework. The OKR framework helps organizations align their goals and objectives with their strategies, and then measure their progress towards achieving those goals.

By setting clear, measurable objectives and regularly tracking your progress, you can ensure that your strategy remains on track and that you're making meaningful progress towards your goals.

Lego serious play systems

We generally a reverse time travel to come up with major mile stones. Let's say the team was focusing on "Imagine we are in Dec 1st 2028. What would the marketing team be doing?". The prompts could be:

1- Imagine the system you created working perfectly. Think of all the things you did to in the last year (from year 2027) to achieve this.

2- Imagine what steps you took in year 2026. Then 2025 etc.

3- Come up with exact steps. Who needs to do what? You can use SMART method for this.

4- Write down all major objectives for this year (2023) and define Key Deliverables. The owners for those tasks.

5- (Optional) Think of all the catastrophes. How would you overcome those?

By the end of the workshop, participants will have built a comprehensive strategy for addressing their organization's challenge or opportunity. This strategy can then be used as a foundation for further planning and implementation.