Creativity and Control: The constant tug of war

Delivering a workshop to small children this week, I was initially delighted when they listened and participated gleefully. Then, all of a sudden, a wanderlust set in and before I knew it, they were literally running rings around me. I found myself struggling not to shout at them in a desperate attempt to regain control of the classroom.

Introducing creativity does introduce an unknown element into the situation. There is an freedom which can often tip over into chaos, and that is why some semblance of structure needs to be maintained. In the absence of order of some kind, then chaos proves to have no purpose other than to do the opposite to what is ordinarily done.

Sometimes creativity is seen as an unnecessary disrupt-er. We don’t need this distraction, what if nothing comes of it, or I am not comfortable not knowing what is going to happen. For anyone who does facilitate this exchange it is so important to manage the process from a distance. Of course, nobody likes somebody standing over their shoulder as they work, but likewise having a framework to start from makes all the difference.

Sometimes the shift to chaos is due to the fact that the seafarers can no longer see sight of land, and simply panic. Its usually at this point that those of us who don’t have sea legs get sick. Its for our own well-bring that some boundaries are placed on the creative endeavors,  whilst allowing space to explore.