Developing exercises for training sessions can be a big challenge. If we get complacent we can fall into the rut of the same old style of training. We go into a conference room, sit down around a table and stare blankly at a power point until the trainer releases us mercifully, not knowing what happened over the past couple of hours.
For training to be most effective, it needs to be interactive and memorable. One of the most memorable trainings I can remember vividly happens to be one I took online several years ago. Now what could be so vivid about an online training course you ask? This wasn’t any online class, this was Harvard University Computer Science Professor David Malan’s CS50: Introduction to Computer Science course which is open to anyone who wants to take it.
In the class, David talks about the fundamentals of how to communicate with a computer through, of all things, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Now if I told you beforehand that one of the top University’s in the would could teach you computer science with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that would probably peak your interest.
In the lecture, standing behind the usual kitchen assortment of a loaf of bread, jars of peanut butter and jelly, and your standard kitchen butter knife, David asks the students to proceed to instruct him how to make the sandwich.
“Put the peanut butter on the bread” was one student’s reply. He picks up the jar of peanut butter and places on top of the loaf of bread.
“No, open the bag of bread first.” The bag is ripped open from the side, sending pieces of bread flying across the lecture hall.
This type of thing goes on for the next 30 minutes until the students finally understand how to communicate exactly what they want to get the result they are looking for.
Several years later, I can still remember this training. I think it was pretty effective. Last week I took a course on records management. I couldn’t tell you today much of what was in it. While there are many considerations to training, suffice to say that we should probably shoot for the memorable end of the spectrum.
Building Communication Skills Brick By Brick
Fast forward several years and I found myself in the position of designing leadership training for scientists and I decided to try to riff off of Dr. Malan’s exercise with something of my own. At home, my son was and still is very much into LEGO. As I watched him build a set one night I thought that I might be able to use that to make a communication exercise that was memorable, fun, and help my team communicate and work together more effectively to address complex problems.
Little did I know that the creators of LEGO already have been thinking about using LEGO for leadership for quite some time and have trademarked a methodology called LEGO Serious Play.
While not a LEGO Serious Play certified facilitator (YET), I still thought I could find a way to use the famed bricks to come up with something on my own that would last about 30 minutes and people would remember.
The results were fantastic. The group had a fun time interacting and building and people were working together in ways that they maybe didn’t get to practice every day. Following the format below you can replicate the exercise and modify it to your needs.
What You’ll Need
Depending on how many people are doing the exercise you will need one small LEGO set for every three to four people. When doing this exercise I used this 55 piece Harry Potter Quidditch Practice ground set. For a different flavor there is the 87 piece Star Wars X-wing Fighter. You can pick from any number of small LEGO sets but whichever one you choose, every 3-4 person team needs to have the same set.
Maybe the biggest challenge is that you need space to spread out. Each team will have a communications team and a building team that need to be in different rooms. Since they are in different rooms they will need a way to communicate such as a cell phone. Multiple teams can occupy the same room if big enough.
The facilitator will need a timer and pen and paper or computer to record results. So in summary:
- One lego set for each team of 3 or 4 people.
- Separate spaces for each communications team and building team.
- One cell phone or other communication device per team.
- Timer
- Pen and paper or computer
Rules of Engagement
The following rules are the basics and can be modified as needed.
- One “Instructor” per team will be tasked with staying separate from the builders and providing instructions over the phone to their team who will be located in a remote location.
- One “Spy” per team will be allowed to go and investigate what other teams are doing and bring information back to the group.
- A team may switch who is the “Instructor” and who is the “spy” once during the build.
- One builder may visit the Instructor once during the build process to look at the instructions.
- Taking pictures or videos of the instructions with your phone and sending them to the team is not allowed.
- All other actions are deemed allowable.
- A team will be considered finished when they put their completed model on the conference room table.
- The model will be judged on both speed of completion and accuracy.
- Select one person to report out on their team’s building process.
Turn Up the Challenge
Take the challenge to the next level! When administering the exercise I took it upon myself to cut out certain steps of the instructions which made it interesting for the instructors. I also tampered with the sets and switched certain pieces between the teams. This required teams to work together and trade with each other despite being in competition.
What Are We Learning Here?
This exercise touches on many leadership, communication, and teamwork principles. Here are some of the key points.
- Unforeseen problems happen all the time. Sometimes we aren’t going to have an instruction manual to get us through it.
- Sometimes there won’t be a perfect fit. Make the best decision you can and move forward.
- Collaboration can help you! Even if it seems you are in competition with someone else.
- People communicate in different ways and in multiple ways. If one approach isn’t working try something else.
- You aren’t always saying what you think you are saying!
- Everyone can find a niche on a team. Not everyone has to be good at everything and its ok if people are weaker in certain areas than others. Building a good team is about finding the right balance to get the job done.
- Don’t take yourself too seriously. It’s ok to lighten up once in a while and have fun. In fact, it’s good for you!
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