Meet Neuland Toolmaster® Nicole Hackenberg

When it comes to change processes or unlocking potential, Nicole Hackenberg of Kommunikationslotsen is the right person to contact. As a facilitator, certified psychologist, and independent organizational consultant, she loves being inspired by new topics and constantly acquiring new knowledge to share with others. A particular passion of hers is shaping relationships. Whether in private or professional settings, in schools or organizations – successful relationships lead to curiosity and integration, rather than defensiveness and separation. In this way, Nicole strives to help others and make the world a little bit better every day.

Now, many of you are probably wondering how she manages to juggle it all. Nicole Hackenberg is a true organizational whiz. And she does it with just one book: her Bullet Journal. Of course, she also gives workshops on the topic, which we regularly report on. But we won't keep you in suspense any longer. Here's the interview:

Dear Nicole, as a little introduction, we would like to ask for your personal 3 hashtags.

# Facilitation

#HeartfeltWarmth

# Constructive

The hashtags really shine through in you. Is there anything else we absolutely should know about you?

I love being out in nature. Feeling the wind, the sun, the rain, the snow. Myself. Smelling the forest, hearing the streams, seeing the animals. But honestly, only with my dog. I don't go out without him. Even though I know it's good for me and that's where I recharge.

Beauty touches me. I've always loved creating, crafting, and building things. Over time, other things came into my life, and the simple act of drawing and creating faded away. That's why I'm so glad that today, in my professional life, I can bring beauty back into my life again and again with my pen and in my calendar.

I love life with all its possibilities. Things to explore, training courses to attend, inspiring topics, opportunities to share my knowledge, the many interesting people… Being able to enjoy all of this is an incredible privilege. Unfortunately, I always find everything so wonderful that there's a risk of spreading myself too thin. So I pay close attention to what I truly want and what I can dedicate my time to. Because time is limited. Self-management is therefore an important part of my life.

That's a good segue to the next question: When did you decide to do what you're doing today... and why?

I've always enjoyed working with people. I love being in contact and providing support. This has been a constant thread throughout my life; for about 22 years now, I've been guiding individuals, teams, and organizations in their development. The way I do it today—as a facilitator—is something I first encountered in 2004, and I realized then that this was the only way I wanted to work.

"Facilitation is the art of bringing to light the creativity and wisdom of a group through dialogue, by pursuing extensive transparency and clarity, and by a form of participation that understands different perspectives as a resource rather than a disruption."

This is a definition from the IAF. It reflects a specific fundamental attitude, which is naturally also reflected in the way I facilitate processes. Each participant is allowed to retain their responsibility, and a framework is created that enables them to connect with one another and utilize the potential of the community.

That pretty much sums it up. Very helpful, even for those who aren't experts in the field. What goes through your heart and/or hand when you hear the word gratitude ?

Gratitude acknowledges what is. Gratitude enriches my life by bringing the beautiful moments back into my awareness. Gratitude enriches relationships; it is my gift to the other person. To keep these beautiful moments in mind, I've made it a habit to capture them from time to time.

That's a lovely idea. It allows us to be much more consciously grateful. Is there an experience in your life that has particularly shaped you?

I don't recall any one specific experience that particularly shaped me. There are many small events in my life that have determined its direction. But what truly shaped me as a person was—and still is—my father's behavior. No matter what nonsense I'd messed up, his first question was always, "Are you alright?" And his follow-up was, "We'll sort the rest out." So now I take my cue from Oscar Wilde: "Everything will be all right in the end, and if it's not all right, then it's not the end."

What a wonderful story! We can all take that to heart. Speaking of which… Is there anything else you'd like to share with our community?

Unfortunately, I can't say what would be good for everyone. But I can say what is often very helpful: celebration. I learned this from John Croft, the founder of Dragon Dreaming. If you truly consider the concept of celebration in the sense of celebration, it means:

Perceive what is. Feel what this does to me. What have I learned? How has this experience changed me?

Only when I take the time for this do the insights I've stored in a rather unconscious part of my being have the chance to enter my conscious awareness. And thus, to change my being in the long term. If we, as a group, repeatedly take the time for this, we will grow together. And we will achieve far more than any one of us can imagine. Or, as Marshall Rosenberg, the developer of the concept of Nonviolent Communication, puts it:

I like that quote! Now, let's move on to a slightly more serious question… 😉 A penguin knocks on your window and asks if you can help him learn to fly. Which Neuland product would you recommend?

I believe that if the penguin truly believes he can fly, he will. And visualization certainly helps with that… seeing himself flying. For that, I use SketchOne 0.7 and Fine One for the Superman cape.

That's perfect, when the interview ends with a real motivational boost! Thank you so much, Nicole, we're really looking forward to flying off with you. 🙂

By the way, Nicole is giving her first online training course on "Bullet Journaling" on June 25th and 26th. You definitely shouldn't miss it! And on July 3rd, there's even a virtual follow-up meeting for all participants, where you can discuss what you've learned. Register here !