Smarter Faster Better by Charles Duhigg

1. Motivation: Choice Control and Mindset

Duhigg advises

"Self-motivation becomes easier when we see our choices as affirmations of our deeper values and goals."

The key to motivation is recognizing that you have autonomy over your actions. Find tasks that align with your core values and aim to incorporate them into your daily routine.

2. Teams: Psychological Safety

Duhigg explains the importance of psychological safety in a team.

He says:

"On the good teams, members spoke in roughly the same proportion."

Encourage everyone in your team to contribute their ideas, fostering a safe and inclusive environment where creativity flourishes.

3. Focus: Cognitive Tunneling and Mental Models

According to Duhigg:

"Top performers...tend to engage in detailed mental modeling."

Try to envisage potential outcomes and challenges of a task before undertaking it. This allows you to focus and prioritize better.

4. Goal Setting: SMART and Stretch Goals

Duhigg recommends setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) and stretch goals.

"For a stretch goal to inspire, a SMART goal should guide action," he writes.

Set high-level goals and then break them down into actionable SMART goals.

5. Managing others: Lean Thinking

Lean thinking is about continuous improvement and respect for people.

Duhigg says:

"By demonstrating respect for each person’s capabilities, lean offers workers the chance to take control."

Empower your team members by involving them in decision-making and respecting their capabilities.

6. Decision Making: Forecasting and Bayesian Psychology

Duhigg emphasizes the importance of updating your beliefs based on new data.

He says:

"Making good decisions is about being able to accurately predict what the future will look like after we’ve made our choice."

Always consider the most up-to-date information when making decisions.

7. Innovation: Creative Desperation

Innovation often arises from necessity. Duhigg suggests,

"Necessity is often the mother of invention."

Don't shy away from challenging situations; they can provide the perfect platform for innovative ideas.

8. Absorbing Data: Turning Information into Knowledge

Duhigg advocates for active reading and taking notes to process information better.

He says:

"Read a few pages, then look away and recall what you just read."

By actively engaging with information, you can better absorb and retain it.

By incorporating these concepts from "Smarter Faster Better," you can improve your productivity, whether managing a team or just trying to get more out of your day.