"Part of what we know about neuroscience explains why formal brainstorming fails. The brain can’t make the necessary connections needed for brilliant insight in a rigid environment. There’s too much pressure and too much influence. People instinctively mimic others’ opinions, leading to suggestions and thoughts that are often predictable and stale."
"Google allows employees to spend up to 20 percent of their time working on personal projects as part of its Innovation Time Off initiate. According to Marissa Mayer, former vice president of search products and user experience (now Yahoo CEO), half of all new product launches at the company—Gmail and Google News, for example—have come from the program."
Via craig daniels, clau
All of us are thinking up ideas 24/7 and many of the ideas that pass through our minds may be just what we are looking for but don' t know it. The key seems to be letting people have time to think while they are at work.
It may seem counter productive to give employees time during the work day to do their own thing but studies show it can improve productivity and help create new and exciting ways to solving problems. Ask yourself what does 3M and Google know about innovation that we don't?
I've run across a few small businesses that have mediation rooms for the employees. The rooms are available for use during the work day and you can practice mindfulness while getting paid. Everyone I've talked to about this tell me it pays off for both employer and employees.