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Tapping The Creativity Of Downtime
In its early days, Chris Wallace’s company didn’t always have enough work to keep its staff fully occupied designing interactive Web sites for clients. But it didn’t want to lose any talent. So he and his co-founders decided to tell employees they could pursue their own interests in their downtime, doing just about whatever they wanted, on the clock.
An unexpected side benefit emerged. Employees spent some of their spare time writing music and building photography and video skills. When the company needed ideas to pitch to potential clients, it tapped into employees’ personal projects. Wallace says he has had meetings with potential clients where 40% of the work he showed them was done by employees in their downtime.
His company, SuperGroup Creative Omnimedia Inc., has grown to 15 employees and expects to post close to $3 million in revenue this year. These days, downtime is less frequent. But management’s philosophy is the same: As long as employees get their work done, they’re free to pursue outside projects from their cubicles. The company continues to lean on employees’ personal projects to help win new clients and expand the work it does with existing clients.
For the most part, he says, granting employees more freedom engenders loyalty and hard work. Employees tend to “come in early and stay late.”
Photo by frencenz.
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Don on July 31st, 2008 2:19 pm
Very inspiring story, it’s a company philosophy we should all use… Nice site too!
Kurt Henninger on July 31st, 2008 7:48 pm
There are some very big companies that actually promote and support their employees being creative at work. One VERY large one actually gives their employees at least 10% of their “clock-time” to pursue their own interests. This has actually translated into employees coming up with really big ideas for that company in question.
cassy on July 31st, 2008 9:02 pm
Management’s philosophy :
As long as employees get their work done, they’re free to pursue outside projects from their cubicles. The company continues to lean on employees’ personal projects to help win new clients and expand the work it does with existing clients.
I hope all companies have this philosophy. Giving the employees the freedom to what they want to do in their downtime.
Winning Startups on August 1st, 2008 5:53 am
Great idea to allow downtime. Makes the day go faster and probably more efficient.
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