WORKPLACE "CREATIVITY GAP":
UK Employees Crave Creativity
By Lois Jacobs
Research conducted in January 2006 in the UK reveals a "creativity gap" in the workplace.
Nearly three quarters (73%) of people in Britain who responded to a survey commissioned by Jack Morton Worldwide say they are not creative at work. An astonishing 98% say their bosses are not creative either.
This is a "red flag" for UK employers because employees are the critical foundation of achieving innovation. If employees don't feel creative, they may be less likely to support and help implement new thinking. If employees don't feel their bosses are creative, they may be less likely to offer new ideas.
Without the "blue sky thinking" that creativity inspires, innovation—and business results—will suffer.
The study does report creativity is thriving out of office hours: 63% of people said they were at their most creative in their home and personal lives. This rises to eight out of ten women. But only two out of ten women say they are creative at work.
If corporate leaders are not encouraging creativity in the workplace they could be missing out on an immeasurable untapped potential. With innovation at the heart of successful business these days, it is crucial that all industries work hard to foster a creative spirit amongst their workforce.
Jack Morton commissioned the survey via a TNS Omnimas based on a sample of 1,000 UK adults between 13-17 January 2006.
Lois Jacobs is Jack Morton's President, International.
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