LEGO Serious Play Workshop for PhD Researchers: Exploring the value of vulnerability to build resilience during your PhD journey

Exploring the value of vulnerability to build resilience during your PhD journey: A LEGO Serious Play workshop

Facilitated by:

Dr Victor A Perez Moraga, Career Development Fellow in Leadership and OB

Durham University Business School, AFHEA

The PhD is a challenging, threatening, solitary, and difficult journey! We often hear scary stories like these surrounding what means to do a PhD; and yet, we seldom discuss our worries and fears with others, let alone opening up, show our wounds, and give ourselves permission to be vulnerable. In this LEGO Serious Play (LSP) workshop, I invite PhD students to explore these myths, worries or anxieties and allow yourselves to have a moment of collective catharsis to release that which often remains repressed, in a supportive and creative environment.

LSP is a play-based method that allows “participants to reveal inner thoughts and feelings that may not be accessible through more conventional developmental modes” (Taylor & Ladkin, 2009, p. 56). LSP contributes to the creation of new knowledge by means of 3D artefacts enabling participants to disclose multiple perceptions and feelings (Wengel et al., 2016). Overall, the technique consists of four core steps: 1) posing the challenge/question, 2) building, 3) sharing, and 4) reflecting (Kristiansen & Rasmussen, 2014). Evidence suggests that the LSP is a useful learning instrument to develop ideas, reflect on difficult topics, and foster reflexive practice (Dann, 2018; Geithner & Menzel, 2016).

References:

Dann, S. (2018). Facilitating co-creation experience in the classroom with Lego Serious Play. Australasian Marketing Journal, 26(2), 121–131.

Geithner, S., & Menzel, D. (2016). Effectiveness of Learning Through Experience and Reflection in a Project Management Simulation. Simulation & Gaming, 47(2), 228–256. 

Kristiansen, P., & Rasmussen, R. (2014). Building a better business using the Lego® Serious Play® method. Wiley & Sons Inc.

Taylor, S. S., & Ladkin, D. (2009). Understanding Arts-Based Methods in Managerial Development. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 8(1), 55–69. 

Wengel, Y., McIntosh, A. J., & Cockburn-Wootten, C. (2016). Constructing tourism realities through LEGO Serious Play. Annals of Tourism Research, 56, 161–163.