Workshops that Transform Monday Actions

Product Sparks workshops integrate interactive training,  the LEGO® Serious Play methodology, and coaching into a single workshop. The group departs with a collective visualization and understanding of the issue or challenge, tangible learnings, reflections and takeaways. Most sessions last about four hours and deliver one concrete outcome that the subsequent session begins with.

The Four Elements Or Phases

Every session follows the same four beats, not necessarily in the same sequence:

1. Build. Participants create a model out of LEGO® bricks representing the topic before any instruction is given. This process reveals genuine beliefs, including those of quieter voices, providing a personal anchor for the training.
2. Discover. A concise, 25-minute presentation, based on insights from the models, introduces a specific framework with an illustrative example.
3. Apply. Attendees apply the learnings to a real work task or case they bring, such as a roadmap item, decision, or ticket.
4. Coach. Participants reflect on both the learnings and the a-ha moments from the session, supported by a safe space and challenging but honest questions.

Why Incorporate Three Methods in One Session

Training offers the tool but not the motivation to utilize it or good ways to internalize insights. The LEGO® Serious Play methodology uncovers authentic thoughts and allows one to literally build and look at their own thoughts, but doesn’t supply a practical tool. Coaching brings the space where everyone can reflect, unlock new perspectives and fosters commitment.

The sequence and mix are quite important: build first to ensure the input resonates personally; coach last so that the change persists beyond the session.

Elements That Persist Across Sessions

Five artifacts are reused, enabling separate sessions to function as a cohesive program:

• A real work item, introduced as pre-work, used consistently from start to finish.
• A commitment card: details what I will do, by when, and how I will measure success.
• A coaching page: relevant questions to help internalise learnings and shift perspectives.
• A worksheet set for each session, allowing participants to leave with their personalized notes.
• A one-page field guide for each session, which, together, comprise the program booklet.

Arranging Sessions into Programs

Begin with a single session or plan the entire sequence. Working hours include brief breaks but exclude lunchtime.

A typical four-hour session unfolds as follows:

The overall structure remains consistent, with only the central question, the framework, and the theme shifting according to the specific topic.

When groups exceed 12 participants, they are divided into smaller tables, each tasked with creating a collective model.

Available formats include in-person, hybrid, and remote options:

• In person is the standard, as the physical bricks and table are integral to the process.
• Hybrid (Lading as a PM workshop): participants might receive learning materials or pre-reads beforehand. The live portion then reduces to approximately four hours daily, focusing more on Build, Apply, and Coach activities.
• Remote: definitely doable, however we either ship the bricks to each participant or we substitude the serious play method for closest equivalent alternatives.
• Languages offered include English and Romanian.

After the session or workshop

Following the session, within 48 hours, you will receive a follow-up document containing photographs of the models, the stories shared, guiding principles, and all commitments made. Optional group coaching calls are scheduled at intervals such as two weeks and 90 days to review progress.

The sessions are facilitated by Alex Bleau, a product coach, trainer, and certified LEGO® Serious Play facilitator, as well as the founder of Product Sparks. He holds the position of Senior Innovation Manager at E.ON Group Innovation and brings around 15 years of experience in product development across sectors like advertising, SaaS, mobile, travel, energy, and AI, including earlier roles at trivago. He has been coaching for over 7 years now and holding workshops and trainings for almost 20. He co-organizes ProductTank Düsseldorf and is pursuing ICF coaching certification.
Some of my past clients include trivago, swisscom, jobcloud, Aklamio and Axpo.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I book just one session? Yes. Each session independently delivers a tangible outcome, and subsequent sessions can build on previous results.
What is the maximum group size? Groups typically range from 6 to 12 participants per facilitator. For larger groups, tables are divided to build shared models. AI Judgment sessions accommodate up to 20 participants, while PM programmes handle 8 to 16.
What should participants prepare? A single work item, such as a roadmap milestone, a pending decision, or a ticket that caused rework, sent one week prior to the first session. A request with clear instructions will be sent out to participants before the workshop.
What are the costs? Costs will vary depending on number of people, format, what is needed to prepare and so on. As a guidance however, half-day workshops usually start at 800 euro, excluding VAT.

Next steps:

Let’s jump on a discovery call and discuss about where your team or people need to grow. All sessions can and usually are tailored by me to fit the teams’ specific needs and challenges. Just use the calendar or form below and of course, have a crazy day!