Building Shared Purpose from Day One
- SENSE Training House
- Dec 9, 2025
- 3 min read
How a New Government Department Used LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® to Define Its VMV
When a new department within the Government of Hong Kong was established, leadership recognised that early clarity around Vision, Mission and Values (VMV) would be critical. Rather than relying on top-down declarations, they opted for a co-creative method: a hands-on workshop using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP®).
What emerged from that session wasn’t just a document — it was a shared understanding. And the way the team built their VMV offers valuable lessons for any organisation preparing for 2026.
Why a New Department Went with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
Cross-functional composition: The department combined legacy staff from different bureaus — policy, operations, community outreach and administration — making alignment challenging.
Need for true buy-in: As a new public entity, lasting commitment required staff to co-own the mission, not just comply with it.
Hybrid and dynamic workflows: With changing responsibilities, a static mission statement risked becoming outdated fast. LSP offered a flexible, living way to define purpose.
What the Workshop Showed — Key Findings
1. Shared Vision Becomes Tangible
Each participant built their own representation of what the “ideal future” looked like. Once placed together, the differences and overlaps revealed real insight.
The result: a clearer, shared vision that reflected multiple perspectives — heritage staff, new hires, policy teams and frontline workers — all contributing to a unified picture.
2. Mission in Action — Vision Meets Reality
Through co-creating a model of what the mission looked like in day-to-day operations, staff identified where aspirations diverged from reality.
This led directly to a structured plan: clear action items to close the gap between what the department wants to be, and what it currently is.
3. Values Come Alive — From Words to Behaviour
Instead of listing value words, participants built scenes to show how values like “collaboration,” “responsibility,” or “service” behave under pressure.
The exercise forced concrete conversations around expected behaviours — not vague ideals. It helped turn slogans into shared habits.
4. Ownership Drives Alignment — Bottom-Up Commitment
Because the VMV emerged from the team, not management alone, alignment felt earned. Participation generated immediate engagement and buy-in. People felt invested.
That sense of ownership translated into renewed morale, clarity of role, and a stronger sense of belonging — crucial in a public-service context.
Why This Matters for Corporate and Public Organisations in 2026
New teams or reorganisations benefit most — when structure is changing, co-creation builds ownership.
Hybrid / cross-functional groups — when departments with different histories must collaborate, a shared vision cuts through friction.
Retention and engagement risk periods — mission clarity and values-based culture strengthen loyalty.
Public-service transparency and trust — building values visually creates authenticity and shared understanding.
Practical Takeaways — What You Can Do Before Year End
Identify an upcoming planning or team-onboarding session.
Use a hands-on, visual method (like LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®) to define or revisit VMV.
Encourage cross-functional participation to surface diverse perspectives.
Translate the outputs (models) into concrete role-responsibilities and operational guidelines.
Schedule a follow-up review to ensure alignment is maintained.
About SENSE Training — and How We Can Help
At SENSE Training, we support organisations — public and private — to build alignment, clarity, and engagement through experiential methods like LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, Team Forging®, CliftonStrengths® and more.
If your team is preparing for strategic planning, restructuring, or a new year realignment, we’d be happy to help you design a workshop that builds shared purpose — not just on paper, but in people’s minds and behaviours.
📩 Contact us at info@sensetraining.com.hk or visit our website to learn more.
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