The Lego Challenge

• It improves collaboration by forcing team members to work together to achieve an end result.
• It also improves communication by strengthening an individual’s ability to work within a team.
• A further benefit is improved problem-solving skills, as team members begin to explore solutions for themselves.

Step 1: Preparation

You will need to provide:

• Lego: at least 30 pieces per team
• A diagram of the model your teams will be building: enough copies for one per team
• A timer
• Some space on a flat surface: table, floor, or worktop

Step 2: Brief participants and split them out into roles

Split participants into groups of 3-5. Each team needs the following roles:

• One Lead Designer: CAN see the schematic, CAN talk to the Lead Developer, CANNOT talk to the Builders, CANNOT touch Lego
• One Lead Builder: CANNOT see the schematic, CAN talk to the Lead Designer, CAN talk to the Builders, CANNOT touch Lego
• Additional Builders: CANNOT see the schematic, CANNOT talk to the Lead Designer, CAN talk to the Lead Developer, CAN touch Lego

Step 3: Separate Lead Designers from their teams, give them each a schematic

Each Lead Designer has 30 seconds to look at the schematic and memorise it in as much detail as possible. They MAY NOT draw anything or take any photos.

Lead Designers stay in their own location, referred to as the HQ.

Step 4: Let Builders get their Lego

Builders can choose 18 bricks from the central Lego store, also called the Warehouse. The Lead builder CAN be present in the initial phase, but CANNOT touch Lego.

Step 5: Retrieve the schematics from the Lead Designers

After 30 seconds, collect the schematics from the Lead Designers. 

Step 6: Begin the activity

Set a 20-minute timer. During the activity, the Lead Builder may move between the HQ (where the Lead Designer is) and the Factory (where the Builders are). 

• The Lead Builder can talk to the Lead Designer as many times as necessary without incurring a penalty
• The Lead Designer must remain in the HQ
• The Lead Designer may request to view the schematic again: each 30 second viewing incurs a one point penalty
• The Builders may visit the Warehouse as many times as they like and swap as many Lego pieces as they like each time. Each visit incurs a one point penalty

Step 7: Score the models

Once the 20-minute timer runs down, all teams must stop building. At this point you review the completed models and decide the winner.

The closest model to the schematic receives 2 points. The next closest receives 4 points, and so on.

Add penalty points for any extra views of the schematics or visits to the Warehouse.

After scoring and penalty points have been awarded, the lowest scoring team wins.

• What are the key learning points you can take away from this activity?
• How can you apply this learning to improve your team and individual performance?