The Surprising Upside of Work Disruptions
When things don’t go as planned at the office, most of us expect headaches, delays, and plummeting productivity. But could interruptions to workflow actually have a hidden upside? Emerging research suggests unanticipated work stoppages may provide fertile ground for boosting employee creativity.
The finding comes from a study of a consumer goods manufacturer that experienced an unexpected shutdown when a fire disabled a key supplier’s factory. The incident forced 8,500 employees home for nearly a week until full operations could resume. In analyzing idea submissions in the three weeks after workers returned, researchers were stunned to discover a 58% spike compared to employees unaffected by the disruption. Moreover, managers rated implemented suggestions from sidelined staff nearly 3 percentage points higher in quality[4][5].
The key seems to lie in what psychologists call “attention residue” — when our minds continue processing a topic unconsciously even as our focus shifts elsewhere. Eureka moments in the shower, inspiration while jogging, and other breakthroughs often stem from this behind-the-scenes mental perseveration. Unexpected interruptions allow residual attention to marinate, while planned events like vacations fully divert concentration[1][2].
So should managers routinely throw chaos into the mix? Not so fast. While limited stoppages may boost creativity, overall productivity losses outweigh the gains from idea generation. However, smart leaders can leverage inevitable disruptions like supply delays, IT outages, or weather events. Capturing insights before work rhythms restart maximizes upside. Enabling employees to easily submit innovations from home also helps[5].
The research defies conventional wisdom, but more inquiry is still needed. Stressful disruptions may inhibit imaginative thinking in some cultures. And it remains unclear whether remote work provides fertile ground for serendipity absent a commute. Still, purposefully mixing up routines could spark your next eureka moment. When the inevitable disruption arrives, make sure to tap its hidden potential before quickly moving on. The fruits of stillness often only emerge once things restart[2].
Citations:
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/jan/28/interruptions-boost-creativity
[4] https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/SSRN_ID4044331_code1377172.pdf?abstractid=3543369&mirid=1
[5] https://hbr.org/2023/11/unexpected-interruptions-can-boost-creativity
