Bloc Thinking

My recent conversation with Meg Bolger, the creator of Facilitator Cards, provided a fascinating look into the world of facilitation, its underlying principles, and practical applications. Meg shared the accidental origin of Facilitator Cards from a need to rapidly plan a facilitation training, emphasising the crucial distinction between content and process. We delved into the design and purpose of the cards as a distilled guide for facilitators of all levels, organised by colour-coded categories that often mirror the flow of a meeting. Drawing on her extensive experience in social justice education, Meg offered valuable insights into facilitating tough conversations, including the "ACT" framework: Acknowledge, Contain, and Timebox. Beyond the practical tools, the conversation explored Meg's philosophy that facilitation means "to make easy," focusing on the process and experience of group interaction and the importance of believing in people's ability to contribute.

I went live on the 27th of March for a conversation with Stephen P. Anderson! We explored the fascinating world of "playful things to think with" and how they transform the creative process.We discussed how we can better give form to our ideas, manipulate them tangibly, and collaborate effectively to solve complex problems together. We explored the comparative advantages of physical tools (like cards, of course!), dove into rich approaches to creative thinking and collaboration techniques, and—time permitting—even touched on how emerging technologies might enhance our thinking processes.The conversation stemmed from our shared interest in making abstract thinking more concrete and accessible.

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Nick Kellet, the visionary behind Deckible! Discover how card decks are being reimagined for the digital age, blending creativity, mindfulness, and innovation. From the award-winning creator of GiftTRAP, Nick shares his journey and insights and how Deckible is transforming workshops, coaching, personal growth - and more!

Join me for a live interview with Jens Mühlstedt, the creative mind behind Inspiration Wild Cards. We delve into the world of design thinking and creativity… as related to design tool geekery, of course. Tune in for an insightful discussion exploring Jens’ journey in creating this innovative tool. ** Creative Coffee Break is a Bloc Thinking Production

Running a business is not for everyone - but designers face an even steeper uphill battle. So why are some of us so ill-equipped when it comes to transitioning into business leadership roles?  German Leon is the Founder and Chief Experience Officer at GESTOOS, where they enable cameras and sensors to see, understand and respond to human movement and behaviour using Artificial Intelligence.   With roots in interaction and user experience design, German has embraced his new role as a business leader. We will be discussing how he was able to make this transition and get an inside look into his company's history and vision for the future of AI technology. You can find me, Werner Puchert, on LinkedIn and Twitter. Catch my design tool reviews on YouTube and keep up with my latest live streams at the Creative Coffee Break.

What if you could stop looking for work and let your next job find you?  Jeff Gothelf is a recognized Lean thinking and design evangelist and a global Lean UX movement founder.   Now, imagine you could repurpose the principles Jeff has been championing and apply them to your career? That’s exactly what he has done in his time in the corporate world and the businesses he established. In his new book, Forever Employable, he demonstrates how to create your content, use it to develop your expertise, and then scale it to build a continuous stream of income, interaction, and community. You can find me, Werner Puchert, on LinkedIn and Twitter. Catch my design tool reviews on YouTube and keep up with my latest live streams at the Creative Coffee Break.

Thought leadership is a phrase used to describe any number of activities, but few have been able to master its potential. These pursuits can build bridges between ideas and action, driving business results, according to Bill Sherman.  Bill is the COO at Thought Leadership Leverage and co-host of the podcast "Leveraging Thought Leadership". He and his team develop strategies to rescue innovative business ideas often suffocating beneath layers of ambiguity.  Explore how you can build a bridge between your ideas and action to drive measurable results on this week's Creative Coffee Break with special guest, Bill Sherman. You can find me, Werner Puchert, on LinkedIn and Twitter. Catch my design tool reviews on YouTube and keep up with my latest live streams at the Creative Coffee Break.

Curiosity is one of our innate superpowers. It powers the human race and fuels innovation. It's what drives us to create new things and explore the world around us.  More than often, Curiosity can be less present or move to the background.  Anthony Rocco, an Experience Designer & Strategist, joins me this week to talk about Curiosity and how to go about re-igniting it. You can find me, Werner Puchert, on LinkedIn and Twitter. Catch my design tool reviews on YouTube and keep up with my latest live streams at the Creative Coffee Break.

A story is a way for people to talk about what they know and what they care about. It's a way to connect with an audience. And it's a way to build trust.  Fei Wu is a content creator and digital marketer who helps small businesses and creative entrepreneurs tell better stories, find more customers and create new revenue streams.   Join the conversation this Thursday the 20th at 1 pm ET to hear her story and ask questions about how you can find your story and share it in a way that connects with your audience. You can find me, Werner Puchert, on LinkedIn and Twitter. Catch my design tool reviews on YouTube and keep up with my latest live streams at the Creative Coffee Break.

Shifting the traditional concept of mentorship into reverse to gain forward momentum. Reverse mentorship is a new concept in the workplace that will change the way we do things. According to this week's guest on the Creative Coffee Break, this approach allows senior team members to learn from junior ones and vice versa. How can you leverage the unique strategic and cultural perspective of junior team members to stay relevant? Come drink at the fountain of youthful insights with my guest, social Entrepreneur, Joshua Nuttall. You can find me, Werner Puchert, on LinkedIn and Twitter. Catch my design tool reviews on YouTube and keep up with my latest live streams at the Creative Coffee Break.