Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business

A group of data scientists at Google conducts a four-year study on team dynamics, revealing that interaction is more crucial than membership. A Marine Corps general, facing low morale, reimagines boot camp and finds that fostering a 'bias toward action' transforms aimless recruits into self-motivated achievers. Meanwhile, the creators of Disney's Frozen face a crisis but achieve a creative breakthrough by reshaping their team dynamics, resulting in one of the highest-grossing films ever. These examples highlight a common understanding: productivity hinges on specific choices. The framing of daily decisions, the ambitious goals we pursue versus the simpler ones we overlook, and the cultures leaders cultivate to inspire innovation distinguish the merely busy from the truly productive. Central to the narrative are eight key concepts—ranging from motivation and goal-setting to focus and decision-making—that elucidate why some individuals and organizations accomplish so much. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics, as well as experiences from diverse leaders, the author illustrates that the most productive people and organizations perceive their world and choices in fundamentally different ways.