Great at Work

From the New York Times bestselling author of Great by Choice comes an authoritative, practical guide to individual performance - based on analysis from an exhaustive, groundbreaking study.Why do some people perform better at work than others? This deceptively simple question continues to confound professionals in all sectors of the workforce. Now, after a unique, five-year study of more than 5,000 managers and employees, Morten Hansen reveals the answers in his 'Seven Work Smarter Practices' that can be applied by anyone looking to maximise their time and performance. Each of Hansen’s seven practices is highlighted by inspiring stories from individuals in his comprehensive study. You’ll meet a high school principal who engineered a dramatic turnaround of his failing high school; a rural Indian farmer determined to establish a better way of life for women in his village; and a sushi chef, whose simple preparation has led to his restaurant (tucked away under a Tokyo subway station underpass) being awarded the maximum of three Michelin stars. Hansen also explains how the way Alfred Hitchcock filmed Psycho and the 1911 race to become the first explorer to reach the South Pole both illustrate the use of his seven practices (even before they were identified). Each chapter contains questions and key insights to allow you to assess your own performance and figure out your work strengths, as well as your weaknesses. Once you understand your individual style, there are mini-quizzes, questionnaires and clear tips to assist you focus on a strategy to become a more productive worker. Extensive, accessible and friendly, Great at Work will help you achieve more by working less, backed by unprecedented statistical analysis.

'In an ambitious new study, Morten Hansen illuminates the habits that separate superstars from their peers. This is the definitive guide to working smarter', 'The typical book about management or careers requires a heavy dose of faith because you don't know where the recommendations come from. Morten Hansen brings beautiful data from a massive research project that reveals how stars at work, in dozens of industries, actually do their work. The data and Hansen's analysis will surprise you, change you, and make you better at work... no leaps of faith required', 'In this groundbreaking book, Morten Hansen delivers on the genius of “and”: rigorous and relevant, research-driven and well-written, empirical and empowering, timeless and practical, full of big concepts and useful tips. Hansen's work is truly distinctive in the genre of professional effectiveness, and a tremendous contribution. This is a book I will read more than once, and reference forever'

Morten T. Hansen is the founder of the Center for Corporate Transformation, and a management professor at the University of California, Berkeley (School of Information) and at INSEAD, France. Hansen holds a PhD from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, where he was a Fulbright scholar and received the Jaedicke award for outstanding academic performance. He also served as a senior management consultant with the Boston Consulting Group in London, Stockholm and San Francisco. Hansen is the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Great by Choice, and the author of Collaboration and Great at Work. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and two daughters.