Learning about our mental state using Lego Six Bricks

🎢 Our lives are full of transitions – at work and at home:
New work roles. Becoming a parent. Taking care of our own parents. International moves. From Kindergarten into Primary into Secondary. Changing careers. And right now, even the normal routines almost feel like going through transitions.

🥜 Every single transition causes some sort of turbulence. Which brings my favourite quote from Glennon Doyle to mind: “When the plane is in turbulence, you have to keep serving those peanuts!”

❓For us as leaders, at work and at home, what does that exactly mean ‘to keep serving those peanuts’? From my point of view, it means to provide some sort of guidance, stability and comfort. It does not mean to remove all the obstacles along the way. But simply to be there, to ask how we are all feeling and how we can help one another.

🎮 And since everyone deals with emotions and needs in different ways, I was trying to find a more playful way (yes, also for the adults) of sharing and learning about each other’s mental state and where everyone is heading.

💡 Here are 4 ideas for the next work meeting or family dinner. The only thing you need is a set of 6 Lego Duplo Bricks in different colours. If people are reluctant to open up about their emotions, go first and open the floor. All emotions should be welcome.

1️⃣ Mood indicator - How do you check in this morning?
Pick one of the colours and tell us how you are arriving.
Possible reflection questions: What do you need from us? How can we help?

2️⃣ Energy level – How full or empty is your ‘battery’ right now?
Use the six bricks as a battery symbol. 1 brick = almost empty, 6 bricks = strong and ready to go. Where are you at right now?
Possible reflection questions: What needs to happen to add one more brick, to have more energy? How can we support?

3️⃣ Breaking the big goal into digestible pieces!
Pick some of the bricks to symbolize your milestones on the way to your overarching goal. What could get in the way of reaching that goal? Finish off by asking your team/family for support to overcome potential obstacles.

4️⃣ Feedback “Stop - Start - Continue”! - Remember to ask for permission before providing feedback!
Use the red brick (Stop doing…), green brick (Start doing…) and any other brick (Continue doing…) to provide feedback to one another. Using the bricks in this context adds a certain lightheartedness to the process and normalises it in the long run.

🐵 Which idea speaks to you the most?

Warmly, Viviane