Flexible working breeds innovation among employees

More and more businesses are realising the importance of nurturing some of their employees as entrepreneurs to help drive growth and believe that flexible working is a key to inspire such a practice, says a study.

The latest research by Regus, a flexible workspace provider, showed that 48 per cent of business people surveyed in country consider flexible working can breed innovation among employees.

The survey canvassed the views of over 19,000 senior business people and owners in 98 countries.

"With small businesses accounting for over 90 per cent of businesses and over three fifths of employment in most economies, it is evident why entrepreneurship should be fostered and nurtured," Regus India Chief Operating Officer Sahil Verma said.

The respondents said entrepreneurship among employees can be nurtured through various measures like updating programmes, mixing staff from different

functions and access to senior management.

The survey noted that 90 per cent of respondents think entrepreneurship has increased in the past five years in their sector.

About 14 per cent said that female entrepreneurship and 11 per cent that serial entrepreneurship (people who set up a series of new businesses, one after the other) is on the rise.

". . .businesses have cottoned on to the powerful innovative drive of entrepreneurs too and are looking to foster entrepreneurship among their own employees," Verma said.

"So how can entrepreneurial behaviour be encouraged?

“Flexible working not only taps into employee demand for a better work: life balance, by allowing them to work their own hours and from different locations, but it also helps employees mingle with workers from different functions, and even different firms, vastly widening their outlook and experience," he said.

Flexibility and diverse inputs can really help employees think outside the box and seek out innovation, he added.