WHY WE LOVE IT:

Charles Duhigg, the author of The Power of Habit, turns out another fantastic motivational tome in Smarter Faster Better. Duhigg pulls in research from world leading technology firms like Amazon and Google to discuss the factors that help teams successful. It turns out, it’s more important to have a team that is inclusive, emotionally intelligent, and psychologically safe than a team composed of people with the best test scores or resumes. Diverse teams that invite idea sharing, and whose leaders are socially and emotionally sensitive are more productive and innovative than non-diverse teams comprised of highly competitive and non-collaborative individuals.

Apple founder Steve Jobs said, “Creativity is just connecting things.” The most creative and intuitive people often struggle to describe their process. “I just looked at the problem and knew what to do.” What’s really happening? They’re making connections between their knowledge and experience and the problem at hand, instantly and without hesitation or self-doubt. This is the secret, not just to individual creativity, but to organizational flexibility and innovation. Teams and organizations need to be able to communicate openly and share information with each other. By doing this, they can leverage their collective experiences and institutional knowledge to make stronger, better connections faster.

Aspiring leaders in almost any field will learn to shape better teams in Smarter Faster Better. Duhigg makes a powerful argument for getting out of our comfort zone and becoming lifelong learners and team players at every stage of our careers.

FAVORITE QUOTES:

“The choices that are most powerful in generating motivation, in other words, are decisions that do two things: They convince us we’re in control and they endow our actions with larger meaning.” – Charles Duhigg

“No one can predict tomorrow with absolute confidence. But the mistake some people make is trying to avoid making any predictions because their thirst for certainty is so strong and their fear of doubt too overwhelming.” – Charles Duhigg

BOOK JACKET SUMMARY:

In The Power of Habit, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Charles Duhigg explained why we do what we do. In Smarter Faster Better, he applies the same relentless curiosity and rich storytelling to how we can improve at the things we do. At the core of Smarter Faster Better are eight key concepts—from motivation and goal setting to focus and decision making—that explain why some people and companies get so much done.

Drawing on the latest findings in neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics—as well as the experiences of CEOs, educational reformers, four-star generals, FBI agents, airplane pilots, and Broadway songwriters—this book reveals that the most productive people, companies, and organizations don’t merely act differently. They view the world, and their choices, in profoundly different ways. Smarter Faster Better is a story-filled exploration of the science of productivity, one that can help us learn to succeed with less stress and struggle—and become smarter, faster, and better at everything we do.