It has been a week since Sir Ken Robinson came to Houston to share his thoughts on creativity. Apparently, one can’t just imagine good ideas to be considered creative. You actually have to do something with your ideas. I wonder what those of you who attended the lecture (or watched his videos) have taken away from his ideas.  Please share!
One idea of many that resonated with me was a quote by Anais Nin: The day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
When I think of this with respect to education, I wonder how long we will tolerate the status quo in many areas before we make a change. Change can be hard. Many factors can contribute to an initiative failing. Leaders take a risk to set a new course.
We’ve all heard the definition of insanity: doing the same thing and expecting different results. How do we back up from our list of daily do’s to rethink about the way we approach our work?
One way is to have an outside force require it, another is for the pain point of doing the same thing becomes too much, we might see someone else’s success and that gives us courage. What helps you?
Last weekend, we assembled the 4th cohort of the REEP Business Fellowship to learn about accounting, finance, economics and managerial use of data. The MBAs in REEP are starting their coursework on managerial accounting. We are building a foundation for future work. If we want something to be different, we need to be different.
What are your creative ideas that you are willing to make happen? Share your thoughts below.
The lecture by Sir Ken Robinson was jam packed with so much food for thought. Was this recorded (video or audio)? It would be beneficial to me to listen to him again and/or have a transcript I could refer back to. Since the lecture, I found his 2006 video and have viewed it more than once. Each time I view it, I hear something new to reflect on.
One of the major take aways for me was when he talked about young children beiing willing to take chances without fear of making mistakes. I thought about this when I was at a step show competition last night as I watched the performance by the students from my elementary school. The competition was at the Berry Center and the students went out on a huge stage and performed in a room full of people they did not know. The team has only been in existence for part of the school year and they have performed once or twice prior to this event, and those performances were at our school in front of their peers or their parents. As inexperienced as they were, they did not hesitate to go on stage and give it their all and they are already talking about what they are going to do the next time. Not many adults in a similar situation would have gone on stage and performed and certainly would not have had a discussion about doing it again.
So, as I plan for next year I am more reflective than I have been in prior years. Keeping in mind what we learned from the REEP program about leading change and Sir Ken Robinson’s lecture about tapping into our creativity, I am approaching every aspect of the new year thinking about the possibilities instead of the parameters and asking myself — what would I do if I were not worried about making a mistake?
As Sir Ken Robinson says …. “If you are not prepared to be wrong you will never come up with anything original.”
Hi Pam–
We didn’t record the lecture. Most of our lectures at Rice have been recorded and are on our website. http://reep.rice.edu. Keep in mind that your role doesn’t have to be Command and Control, more Climate Control. How will you react to mistakes?
Like your kids, I remember being a part of the school talent show. We were in the cafeteria, not anywhere the size of the Berry Center. My best friend, Cheri, and I danced to the song Blinded by the Light. We created our costumes: black t-shirts with a silver “Dyn-o-mite” iron-on that we picked out at the mall and my mom made us matching skirts. What a fond memory! I am tickled every time I think about it. (I can show you some of the dance moves at our next class) I had no training, precious little talent, and all heart. Would I be able to do that now? Maybe not, but isn’t life richer for these memories?
I tried to write down some of the wisdom that I heard that evening. Maybe we can recreate the event if we all share what we remember…
What if Bart’s mom didn’t take him to the gym? What if she said “stop it with the hands thing?”
For the Child, the School is the System.
I went to school with people who all had “something wrong” with them.
Andrea,
When I heard the story about Bart I couldn’t help but wonder how many teachers and parents have unknowingly and stifled greatness. We have plenty of “Bart-types” in our schools that we don’t know what to do with since they don’t seem to fit in. I’m going to find some time to share the lecture with my staff so we can start a conversation about what we can do to find out our children’s interests.
The step team has provided an opportunity for students to showcase their talents and we also have a jump rope team. In order to remain on the team there are academic and conduct requirements and these students take pride in keeping up with their academics so they can stay on these teams. I wonder what else our teachers can come up with for our students – especially if we all know that it is ok to make mistakes?
Thanks for the reminder about not being Command and Control — principals tend to be do-ers which can inhibit our ability to lead. Dr. Anthony, our former superintendent, shared with principals and other district leaders that we should always be ahead of our staff, looking up and planning for what is coming our way, instead of looking down and getting mired in the details.
As I think about what I want to do for my innovative project, my first order of business will be to create a climate where it is perfectly ok to make mistakes and to take what we learned to grow and become better at what we do.
I also went to school with people who had “something wrong” with them.
By the way, I can’t wait to see those dance moves!
Pam
Thanks, Pam. This concept that it is ok to make mistakes seems so foreign in our work. We sometimes think that kids will be damaged if we make a mistake. I attended a conference at Rice yesterday on “Building Creative Minds”. Ron Sass, Fellow in global climate change at the Baker Institute and co-founder of the Center for Education, asked how do you know if you are “ready to be creative”? Risktaking was the final idea he shared. “Do you feel that it is OK to fail when trying new things?” It would be interesting to know how your staff feels about risktaking. See you soon!
Aw, this was a very nice post. In idea I would like to put in writing like this moreover – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and under no circumstances seem to get something done.
Everything is very open with a very clear description of the issues. It was definitely informative. Your website is very helpful. Many thanks for sharing!