UK employers must inspire staff to encourage progress

Too
many UK employers don’t inspire their workforce or encourage the development of
new ideas among staff.

Research
conducted among 300 members of staff and 200 employers concludes that company
culture and attitudes in the UK inhibit the development of new ideas and
entrepreneurship.

The
study finds that more than nine out of 10 office workers feel uninspired by
their employers.

Nearly
half of office workers think ideas from outside the boardroom are not given any
weight and a third believe someone else will take the credit for their idea if
it is implemented.

The
study by Office Angels shows three out of 10 employees feel inhibited about
mentioning new ideas because they are scared of sounding stupid or generally
feel intimidated by senior staff.

In
contrast, more than 90 per cent of employers say they are open to business
improvement suggestions and would think favourably of employees who speak up
and offer ideas.  

However,
two-thirds of employers admit they could make it easier for employees to
approach them with ideas and implement methods to encourage and reward those
who do so.

Paul
Jacobs, director of corporate development at Office Angels, commented,
"Businesses potentially hold the answer to their own growth and success
within their own ranks.

"Employers
should consider ways of creating a forum for bright ideas to be aired, by
adopting an ‘open door’ culture and encouraging the flow of information and
initiatives from the bottom and up through the ranks."

The
survey finds that more than two-thirds of staff believe that a "closed
door" approach to sharing ideas can lower office morale, making staff less
committed to their employer.

Jacobs
added, "Enabling staff to share their ideas makes them feel part of the
bigger picture, ultimately making them more motivated and loyal to the
business."

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More
than half of those surveyed admit they would not think twice about taking their
"entrepreneurial spirit" to a company that would allow them to get
more involved in the direction of the business.

By
Ben Willmott