Article Link: http://stage.exchangepress.com/article/conversations-that-generate-new-ideas/5020640/
In your work as an early childhood professional, do you often find yourself on a treadmill or recursive cycle of dealing with the same problems over and over again? I see this so often in early childhood programs. While some of the reasons are systemic �" for instance, staff turnover caused by budget restrictions on salaries �" other reasons include bureaucratic thinking that stifles creativity and leads to stagnation. Einstein is often quoted as saying, “Insanity is continuing to do the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” No wonder early childhood administrators often say their job is driving them crazy! Dedication and hard work can only take you so far, especially if you’re always exhausted and have lost any sense of excitement or joy in your daily work.To get out of bureaucratic thinking or life on the treadmill, you have to explore new ideas, new possibilities for yourself and your workplace regularly. While this can be done as an individual, it’s far more rewarding to create a work culture that encourages creative thinking and the generation of new ideas. I’m always fascinated by directors who’ve created a work environment where staff members feel like they ...