Louis the Lion: A Story of Inclusion, Metaphors, and the Power of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®

Some of you may have already heard this story. I had the privilege of sharing it a few years ago in Billund, during the Global Conference of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator gathering. But no matter how much time passes, this remains one of the most powerful and transformative experiences of my career.

I was leading a four-workshop program for an IT company. An exciting project covering personal identity, real-time strategy, problem-solving, and leadership. A dream opportunity for a facilitator!

But on the first day, I faced an unexpected challenge. Among the participants was Louis (a fictional name for privacy reasons), a man with severe motor disabilities and speech limitations. No one had informed me in advance. I panicked!

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is a methodology where using hands to build and verbal expression to share the meaning of the models are two essential elements. How could he participate? How could I ensure he had a full and authentic experience?

I realized that I had a wall to climb:
“how do you facilitate for someone with such a disability?“

How do you find the right balance between support and independence?
If I were too present, I might make him feel different or limited. If I remained too distant, I might exclude him from the process.

But as always, you only had to realise I had a choice: see barriers or find solutions.

I chose the second option.I reorganised the materials,placing large Duplo bricks within Louis’s reach. I minimised fine-motor exercises and focused on ensuring he had the space and time he needed.
I heightened all my senses to understand when and if I needed to intervene. I listened to Louis with a level of attention and focus that I rarely had in other situations.
At first, I hovered near him, ready to assist. Then, something extraordinary happened. Louis built a powerful model: “A lion standing in front of a wall, with a small window in the middle.

“This is me,” he said. “Every day, I face walls that seem impossible to climb. But over time, I’ve learned how to get over them. I studied, got a degree, and found a job. Computers are my window to the world.”

I was speechless. His model was the perfect metaphor. Not just for his life but for what LSP stands for. He had found a way to express something deeply personal and powerful in a way that traditional communication might not have allowed.

Louis the Lion didn’t need help. He needed inclusion!

And LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® had given him a tool to express himself beyond barriers.

That was the moment I truly understood the essence of facilitation, design, and ethics. It’s not just about following a method; it’s about creating a space where everyone can contribute, regardless of limitations. I realised I didn’t need to ‘help’ Louis. He didn’t need assistance. He needed inclusion.

The magic of solutions LSP had done something magical: it levelled the playing field. The bricks became a bridge between thought and expression, allowing Louis to share his voice in a way that words alone never could.

In his feedback, Louis wrote:

“At first, I felt a little bit confused and fearful… I asked myself: ‘And now, what do I have to build?’ I wasn’t able to express any ideas!
But as soon as I began to touch the bricks, ideas and thoughts started flowing through my mind and into the models, and I was able to express my thoughts like I never did before!
So I understood better that this was indeed the purpose of the methodology!
I truly hope to have further opportunities to use LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® to support my daily job; it really helps and can boost the resolution of so many issues!”

That day, I learned that facilitation is not about leading. It’s about listening, adapting, and trusting the process. It’s about creating a space where every voice, no matter the obstacles, is heard.

Because in the end, we all have walls to climb, and sometimes, all we need is the right bricks.