Take time out of the office and network to drive creativity and entrepreneurship

Businesses that want their employees to be more innovative should send them out of the office more often, new research has found. The study revealed that managers who demand constant outputs from their staff don’t give enough time to think, preventing new ideas.

The researchers also found that the best ideas were developed when employees were given time to move away from the office, engage with other people in their network and consider feedback from multiple sources, as opposed to only seeking opinions in their office. Staff need time to consider and reflect – this is not unique to entrepreneurs, but for anyone who wants to be innovative. Seeking feedback from different sources benefits creativity.

Other recent studies have also suggested that too much time in the office might be taking its toll on employees. Only half of staff worldwide felt that their workplace fostered productivity, while 42% of employees believed their office had no positive effect on their happiness.