United States CFOs suggest companies may be their own worst enemy when it comes to innovation, according to a survey released by Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI).

CFOs cited too much bureaucracy, and being bogged down by daily tasks and putting out fires, as the biggest barriers to innovation, at 30% and 27% respectively. These obstacles may also have the potential to hinder hiring efforts; in a separate survey, 87% of workers said a company’s reputation for being innovative is an important consideration when evaluating potential employers.

CFPs were asked, “What is the greatest barrier to your company being more innovative?” Responses included:

• Too much bureaucracy: 30%, up from 24% in 2012
• Being bogged down by daily task or putting out fires: 27%, up from 20%
• Lack of new ideas: 25%, down from 35%
• Ineffective leadership: 16%, up from 9%
• Don’t know: 1%, down from 11%

“Businesses strive to be innovative but all too often get in their own way due to self-imposed barriers,” said Paul McDonald, senior executive director for Robert Half. “Organizations need to find a way to let ideas rise to the top quickly and create clear paths to implement them.”

Robert Half provided tips for managers when it comes to fostering innovation:

• Step away from your usual assignments and set aside time to brainstorm with your team. Host internal events where employees can present creative business solutions to company leadership.  
• Remove unnecessary red tape. For example, simplify project requests and approval processes.
• Hire additional staff if heavy workloads are consistently getting in the way of innovation.
• Be patient; new ideas take time to flourish. Make innovation an ongoing focus, and provide your employees the support they need to realize their vision.

The surveys were developed by Robert Half and conducted by independent research firms. The CFO survey is based on telephone interviews with more than 2,200 CFOs from companies in more than 20 of the largest US metropolitan areas. The survey of workers includes responses from more than 1,000 adult US workers employed in office environments.