How much time you spend in the office, the size of a workforce and needing years behind you to achieve success are being challenged as signs of success.

A survey of 1,500 small business managers found accepted business conventions to measure success aren't as strong as they once were.

Nearly all of those quizzed, 94 percent, said they judge their staff on their results over the time they spend in the office while nearly three in five will claim the number of staff cannot be considered a benchmark of success.

Half said they do not believe in the traditional 9am to 5pm working day, while over a third (36% percent disagree with the traditional idea of the working week lasting from Monday to Friday> This reflects the growth of flexible working.

Max Taylor of T-Mobile who commissioned the survey, said: "The way business is being done is changing and with it, the mixture of ideas and perceptions that constitute success are being challenged and rewritten. These findings demonstrate how small business owners are putting themselves in control of their everyday business by increasingly challenging traditional business norms and asking ‘does this actually make sense for my business?"

"Many businesses that are challenging accepted norms are the ones that can prosper the most as traditional measurements of success like age, experience and education evolve to suit a more technologically advanced business marketplace. Indeed, as technology continues to advance and working practises continue to change, more businesses can harness increasing mobility and flexibility to drive performance. We are keen to do everything we can to lend support to these businesses and give them the best tools and we can to help them succeed."