PRESS RELEASE 6 September 2004
Bring beds into the workplace suggests new report
Britain’s bosses may be shocked to learn that workers admit to having their best ideas in bed. Nearly a third of people polled in a recent survey claim their brains go into overdrive in bed, with only 11% of people in Great Britain having their best ideas at work. And just 6% of females attribute their good ideas to the workplace, compared to 17% of men*.
The average wage packet is up by over 4% this year** and employers may think they’re getting a greater return on their employee investment but, as the research commissioned by the ‘East of England – space for ideas’ campaign shows, that is not necessarily the case.
It’s not all bad news though as nearly 70% of those surveyed consider themselves ‘ideas’ people. And it’s great news for graduate employers – one in five 25-34 year olds polled said they had their best ideas at work. So, why aren’t all employees having great ideas in the work place?
Professor Richard Wiseman, Britain’s only Chair in the understanding of psychology, commented: “These new results illustrate how our minds are often most creative when we relax and take time away from everyday pressures. Also, in our dreams we produce unusual combinations of ideas that can seem surreal, but every once in a while result in an amazingly creative solution to an important problem.
“Ideas can come to people at any time and in any place, but to fully reap the rewards of a creative mind people’s brains need to be primed for a new way of thinking. Britain’s bosses must therefore foster new approaches if they want to get the most out of their employees.”
Professor Wiseman has written one of six papers by thought leaders in the East of England which help businesses and individuals generate new ideas and thinking. They can be seen on www.spaceforideas.uk.com. His new book on creativity in the workplace, ‘Did you spot the gorilla?’ (Arrow Books, 2004), was published earlier this month.
Top five tips to increase creativity and idea generation at work:
1. Try brain-priming exercises. Focus on a problem, move onto something else for a while and then come back to it. The break will have primed your brain into another way of thinking2. Have flowers and plants in the office. Research has shown that this can help to produce 15% more ideas in the workplace***3. Have a specific ‘creativity’ room. A dedicated and comfortable space for ideas can help generate ideas. International feng shui doctor, Paul Darby, suggests having a specific room in the west side of a building – in feng shui the west is symbolic of creativity, new ideas and new beginnings. Use colours such as white, cream and silvery grey4. Have food and drinks readily available to create a relaxed atmosphere5. Consider re-organising office layouts to enhance working relationships
And failing that… install beds in the workplace!
The survey also revealed that men and women have different opinions on what constitutes a good idea. Men consider the teabag – invented 100 years ago – the best invention (26%) since sliced bread (25% – a very close second). Over 50% of women surveyed heralded chocolate or the bra as their top ideas.
More than four in ten people polled recognised the light bulb as one of the most significant inventions. It beat the computer, car and mobile phone hands down.
The report also shows a great solution for those who claim they aren’t ideas people – move to the East of England. Nearly a quarter of people surveyed in the East of England have their best ideas outside proving the region really does allow ‘space for ideas’.
Charles Kitchin, Regional Marketing Manager for the East of England – space for ideas campaign, said: "The great news is that over 70% of people in the East of England profess to be 'ideas' people. We are using the 'East of England – space for ideas' campaign to tell people our success story – whether they live and work in the region, in other parts of the UK or overseas – and to highlight the importance of continuing to foster and encourage ideas and creativity."
-Ends-
Notes to editors
* According to the 2003 GEM Survey, women fear failure more than men. The conclusion in this case may be that women are scared to have ideas at work in case they have any bad ideas
** Statistics relating to UK average earnings (rose by 4.2% in the year to June 2004) were supplied by the Office for National Statistics
*** The Impact of Flowers and Plants on Workplace Productivity Study was conducted by Roger Ulrich, Ph.D., Behavioural Scientist, Director of the Centre for Health Systems and Design, Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, 2004
"The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office."Robert Frost, poet
The research was commissioned by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), for its East of England – space for ideas campaign, amongst a representative sample of 1,010 adults aged 16+ and conducted by BMRB International over the weekend of 14-15 August 2004.
East of England – space for ideas is the campaign to promote the East of England regionally, nationally and internationally and is led by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).
Grounded in the region’s great heritage of original thinking and innovation, the campaign demonstrates to the world that the East of England is the UK’s ideas region where innovation and creativity flourish. It is this spirit of ingenuity that is at the heart of the distinctive East of England – space for ideas brand.
For further information visit www.spaceforideas.uk.com or www.eastofengland.uk.com
• Online Resource Pack offering tips and advice for how to have ideas and what to do with them will available on the space for ideas website from the end of September• Currently the website showcases six original essays by world leading thinkers including Dr Edward de Bono, Baroness Susan Greenfield and Professor Wiseman, exploring the nature of creativity and its value to business
2004 is the anniversary of several inventions:• 100 years of the teabag• 100 years of the pencil • 25 years of the walkman
For more information or to arrange an interview with Charles Kitchin or Professor Wiseman please contact:
Lindsey Dawson / Tori Stokes / Mel Tuckwell at Band & Brown Communicationslindsey@bbpr.com or tori@bbpr.com or mel.tuckwell@bbpr.comTel: +44 (0)1603 417722Out of office hours: 07808 771282 (Lindsey), 07932 107620 (Mel)
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