Brimming with counterintuitive insights and actionable recommendations,The Best Place to Workoffers employees and executives alike scientifically proven advice for working smarter and turning any organization-regardless of its size, budgets, or ambitions-into an extraordinary workplace.
Ron Friedman, Ph.D., is an award-winning psychologist who writes for the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and CNN. He is the founder of ignite80, a consulting firm that helps smart leaders build thriving workplaces, and frequently delivers keynotes and trainings on the science of workplace excellence. To learn more about his work, visit ignite80.com.
An INC. Magazine Best Business Book of the Year
An excellent book.
-Booklist
"A must-read"
-Library Journal (starred review)
"What a gem! Enough that it's a thorough, practical manual for
optimizing relationships and work environments, based on new and
solid research in human behavior--but it's a surprising, witty,
well-written, and wonderfully engaging read."
-David Allen, author of Getting Things Done
"We've lost our way. In this stunning book, Ron Friedman helps us
get back on track, exploring not only what work is for, but how we
can leap forward and become more human, more alive and more
effective."
-Seth Godin, author of Lynchpin and The Icarus Deception
"In The Best Place to Work, Ron Friedman examines the factors that
take a company from ordinary to extraordinary. The stories in this
book . . . pack powerful, research-based lessons for better
leadership in the workplace. Friedman's findings are often
surprisingly counterintuitive, yet always convincing."
-Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and To Sell Is
Human
"The Best Place to Work is an engaging journey through the
latest science of improving the quality of life in organizations.
Psychologist Ron Friedman examines how to unleash creativity, boost
motivation, and offer rewards and recognition that bring people
together rather than driving them apart."
-Adam Grant, Wharton professor and author of Originals and
Give and Take
"A contemporary classic. Dr. Friedman's new book offers a highly
original guide to creating exceptional workplaces based on
cross-field academic research and superb examples from real
companies. You won't find these insights elsewhere."
-Marshall Goldsmith, author of What Got You Here Won't Get You
There
I love this book! It's smart, fun to read, interesting, clear, and
practical. We're all owners of our workplaces, and this is our
owner's manual. Following Ron's advice is easy and will pay huge
dividends for you and the people with whom you work.
-Peter Bregman, author of 18 Minutes
"An eye-opening, highly-readable, and practical guide to improving
the way we work. No matter what you do for a living, this book will
change the way you see your workplace."
-Richard Wiseman, author of 59 Seconds: Think a Little Change
a Lot "In The Best Place to Work, Ron Friedman brings
together decades of psychological research into a package that
offers organizations concrete advice to improve the well-being of
workers and the quality of work. Much of the advice is eye-opening.
I'm sure the results of taking the advice will be too."
-Barry Schwartz, author of The Paradox of Choice and
Why We Work "This fascinating book shows how to create
workspaces that foster creativity, collaboration, and high
productivity. It's a joy to read, filled with practical advice for
leaders, engaging real-world stories, and grounded in scientific
research."
-Keith Sawyer, author of Group Genius and Zig Zag: The
Surprising Path to Greater Creativity Friedman's book fills
you with optimism about the future of work. If enough managers pay
attention to the science he is promoting, then a lot of people are
going to roll out of bed on Mondays truly eager to get to the other
side of their commutes.
-David McRaney, author of You Are Not So Smart "When it comes
to motivation and engagement, the problem is rarely that the work
itself is terrible - it's that the way we are working is. In The
Best Place to Work, Ron Friedman tells you everything - and I mean
everything - you need to know to bring out the best in your
employees. This powerful (and entertaining!) book is a guide to
understanding how subtle, often unconscious influences in the
workplace affect happiness, creativity, productivity and loyalty -
and how you can use these insights to create real and lasting
impact, on your team and in your organization. Everyone should be
reading this book."
-Heidi Grant Halvorson, author of 9 Things Successful People
Do Differently If you want to attract and keep exceptional
employees, your culture is the key. In this entertaining book, Ron
Friedman offers a practical game plan for building a workplace that
thrives."
-Todd Henry, author of The Accidental Creative and Die
Empty "There's an astonishing gap between what science knows about
human behavior and what companies think they know. In this
fascinating book, Ron Friedman outlines the science behind thriving
at work and offers practical advice for managers who are committed
to making a real difference in the workplace.
-David Burkus, author of Under New Management What a great
relief to read a business book that is not just about how to be a
better leader but about what makes work more fun, exciting and
productive. By focusing on what managers at all levels of an
organization can do, this book provides a rich inventory of
practical, research-based ideas for making work engaging. A most
valuable and entertaining read full of powerful insights that
should be read by every manager and employee.
-Edgar H. Schein, Professor Emeritus Sloan School of Management,
MIT "Ron Friedman's The Best Place to Work presents the latest
scientific findings in a highly entertaining but rigorous way. An
excellent example of great science writing for practical
application in the real world. If you want to make the workplace
better, this book is the best place to start."
-Dean Keith Simonton, PhD, Distinguished Professor of
Psychology, University of California, Davis "The Best Place to
Work flows seamlessly and is filled with practical, accessible ways
of seeing not only oneself in depth, but also the complex mosaics
of workplace environments with pitfalls and opportunities galore.
The principles that undergird a fulfilling and healthy life, with
room for authentic, creative play are infused into practical,
real-life vignettes throughout its pages. Bringing the science of
human innovativeness and productivity into focus, and combining
these science-based truths with a life well lived are what can be
gleaned from its chapters."
-Stuart Brown, M.D., author of Play: How it Shapes the Brain,
Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul "Ron Friedman
bridges the gap between cutting-edge science and the reality of the
modern workplace in a way that is clear, sensible, and effective.
Friedman does more than offer recommendations - he provides
empirically supported tools for turning most any office into a
lively, engaging workplace. Written in a user-friendly style that
will grab your attention, this book is a must-read for anyone who
has wondered why workplaces can't be successful and welcoming at
the same time."
-Harry Reis, PhD, University of Rochester Professor of
Psychology, Past President of the Society for Personality and
Social Psychology "An energetic, conversational look at what
really makes an office environment tick."
-Publishers Weekly Most readers will find some arresting ideas in
this book...with a light and entertaining touch.
-Financial
Times
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