Comparison page: How do I recognize a good LEGO® Serious Play® certification?
Short answer
A comprehensive LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator training program teaches the complete process, covers both core processes “Real Time Identity for the Team” and “Real Time Strategy for the Enterprise,” and includes sufficient practical exercises so that participants can facilitate a workshop themselves. Also, consider the trainers’ experience, the follow-up support, and which materials are included in the price.
- Duration: at least three days, for StrategicPlay® 3.5 in-person days in Hamburg
- Core processes: Real Time Identity for the Team and Real Time Strategy for the Enterprise
- Practical exercise: own workshop with feedback on the last day of training
- Follow-up support: virtual learning sessions after the training
- Materials: Manual, learning journal, templates and StrategicPlay® Kit with LEGO® materials
Not every LEGO® Serious Play® certification is the same.
Anyone looking for LEGO® Serious Play® training will find many providers but little guidance. Two-day courses, four-day programs, online certificates, university certificates: How can you possibly keep track of it all? This guide will help you ask the right questions before you book.
The crucial question: Who defined the standards?
LEGO® Serious Play® is a method that has been developed since 2000. In 2010, LEGO A/S, together with selected experts on the official LEGO® Serious Play® Training Advisory Board, established the quality standards for facilitator training.
These standards clearly state:
A full certification requires at least three days.
It teaches the complete LEGO® Serious Play® process
It encompasses both core processes : “Real Time Identity for the Team” and “Real Time Strategy for the Enterprise”
We – StrategicPlay® – were part of this advisory board. We helped define these standards. This is the foundation on which our training is built.
What does that mean for your selection?
Ask each supplier these three questions:
1. How many days does the certification take? Less than three days means the method isn’t fully taught. You still get a certificate, but not the competence to facilitate complex strategy and team workshops.
2. Which processes are taught? LEGO® Serious Play® has two core processes: “Real Time Identity for the Team” for team development and “Real Time Strategy for the Enterprise” for strategy development. Teaching only one of these, or not the entire process, only provides a partial understanding, not a complete training.
3. Can you facilitate your own workshop on the last day? This is the real test. A good training program prepares you so that you can conduct a full workshop on the last day and gain practical knowledge.
What sets us apart from other providers
| StrategicPlay® | Typische 2-Tage-Anbieter | |
|---|---|---|
| Dauer | 3,5 Tage | 2 Tage |
| Kernprozesse | Beide vollständig | Häufig nur ein Ausschnitt |
| Standards | Mitdefiniert im LEGO® Advisory Board 2010 | Keine Verbindung zu den Originalstandards |
| Praxistag | Ja – eigener Workshop am letzten Tag | Selten |
| Nachbetreuung | Virtuelle Lernsessions nach dem Training | Meist keine |
| Erfahrung | 20 Jahre – seit 2006 | Variiert stark |
What you can do after our training
After 3.5 days at StrategicPlay® you can:
- Supporting teams in team building, change management, strategy definition and innovation projects with LEGO® Serious Play®
- Design and facilitate workshops ranging from short, entertaining one-hour formats to two-day strategy processes.
- Fully apply both real-time strategy processes: “Real Time Identity for the Team” and “Real Time Strategy for the Enterprise”
Our LEGO® Serious Play® Certified Facilitator Training
The full LEGO® Serious Play® Facilitator certification.
The unbeatable experience and expertise in the German-speaking world. We became a partner of LEGO A/S for LEGO® Serious Play® in 2006 and an official training provider in 2010. Katrin Elster brings 20 years of experience with LEGO® Serious Play® directly to the training and supports the co-creative method with practical examples from two decades of facilitation work. We know the market inside and out.
We defined the certification standards for LEGO® Serious Play® together with LEGO. In 2010, together with LEGO A/S, we defined the criteria for full certification on the official LEGO® Serious Play® Training Advisory Board: a minimum of three days, covering both core processes “Real Time Identity for the Team” and “Real Time Strategy for the Enterprise,” and no shortcuts. Those certified by us have a complete understanding of the methodology and the real-time strategy process. There are other providers on the market who handle this differently.
Experience it as a participant in order to know what matters as a facilitator. You will first experience each process step yourself, in order to then analyze and reflect on it as a facilitator. The training is consistently practice-oriented, supported by co-creative methodology, and is structured over 3.5 days so that all the pieces of the puzzle fit together on the last day.
After 3.5 days you will already have valuable practical experience. On the final day of training, the group will take turns facilitating a complete LEGO® Serious Play® workshop, with Katrin Elster as coach. In virtual learning sessions following the training, you will discuss initial experiences, open questions, and workshop designs with the trainer and the training group, enabling you to apply LEGO® Serious Play® directly.
Your facilitator toolkit is fully stocked and ready for immediate use. Included in the training price: manual, learning journal, cheat sheets, templates, and a StrategicPlay® kit with LEGO® materials for immediate use. You’ll go home with a certificate and can get started right away.
CoCreACT® is the next level. CoCreACT® is our own co-creative, comprehensive process that guides teams from vague challenges to concrete, binding experiments. Facilitators who want to become even more effective can combine LEGO® Serious Play® with CoCreACT® and guide teams from good intentions to real impact.
Duration: 3.5 days in person in Hamburg. Price: from €2,520 incl. VAT (Early Bird). Includes: manual, learning journal, cheat sheets, templates, StrategicPlay® kit with LEGO® materials, virtual learning sessions after the training.
Frequently Asked Questions about LEGO® Serious Play® Certification
How long does the LEGO® Serious Play® certification take at StrategicPlay®?
The LEGO® Serious Play® Certified Facilitator Training from StrategicPlay® lasts 3.5 days and takes place in person in Hamburg.
What core processes are taught in the training?
The training fully teaches the two core processes “Real Time Identity for the Team” and “Real Time Strategy for the Enterprise”.
Does anyone have practical facilitation experience?
Yes. On the last day of training, the group takes turns facilitating a complete LEGO® Serious Play® workshop and receives feedback from Katrin Elster.
What is included in the training?
Included are a manual, learning journal, cheat sheet, templates, a StrategicPlay® kit with LEGO® material, and virtual learning sessions after the training.
Who is the certification suitable for?
The training is aimed at facilitators, coaches, consultants, trainers and managers who want to use LEGO® Serious Play® for team, change, innovation and strategy processes.
Professionally reviewed
This guide has been professionally reviewed by Katrin Elster. Katrin Elster has been working with LEGO® Serious Play® since 2006 and trains facilitators. She is the founder of StrategicPlay® and CoCreACT®.
Final professional examination: June 2026
Still not sure?
No problem. We offer two entry options:
LEGO® Serious Play® Online Introductory Training (2 hours) Experience the method before you decide.
LEGO® Serious Play® Online Basic Training (0.5 days) First introduction to facilitation for shorter workshop formats.
StrategicPlay® and CoCreACT® are trademarks of Hoffmann Consulting GmbH, Hamburg.