Ron Friedman - Best place to work: the art and science of creating an extraordinary workplace

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR

The Best Place to Work

What a gem! Enough that its a thorough, practical manual for optimizing relationships and work environments, based on new and solid research in human behaviorbut its a surprising, witty, well-written, and wonderfully engaging read. I had countless aha!s about how we can effectively get things done. Bravo, Ron Friedman.

David Allen, author of Getting Things Done

A contemporary classic. Dr. Friedmans new book offers a highly original guide to creating exceptional workplaces based on cross-field academic research and superb examples from real companies. You wont find these insights elsewhere. From office design to employee motivation to conflict resolution, The Best Place to Work is the best book to have on your shelf now.

Marshall Goldsmith, author of What Got You Here Wont Get You There

Weve 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 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 bookwhich range from cruise ship casinos to hostage negotiationsare fascinating in their own right, but they also pack powerful, research-based lessons for better leadership in the workplace. Friedmans 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 journeythrough 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 Give and Take

I love this book! Itssmart, fun to read, interesting, clear, and practical. Were all owners of our workplaces, and this is our owners manual. Following Rons 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.

Professor Richard Wiseman, author of 59 Seconds

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. Im sure the results of taking the advice will be too.

Barry Schwartz, author of The Paradox of Choice and Practical Wisdom

This fascinating book shows how to create workspaces that foster creativity, collaboration, and high productivity. Its a joy to read, filled with practical advice for leaders, engaging real-world stories, and grounded in scientific research.

Keith Sawyer, Morgan Distinguished Professor in Educational Innovations (UNCChapel Hill) and author of Zig Zag

Friedmans 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 terribleits that the way we are working is. In The Best Place to Work, Ron Friedman tells you everythingand I mean everythingyou 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 loyaltyand 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, PhD, associate director of Columbia Business Schools Motivation Science Center and 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 Die Empty

Theres 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 The Myths of Creativity

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 at MIT Sloan School of Management, author of Organizational Culture and Leadership, and coauthor, with John Van Maanen, of Career Anchors

Ron Friedmans 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 Workflows 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, MD, author of Play and founder and president of the National Institute for Play

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 recommendationshe 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 cant 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, and winner of the International Association for Relationship Researchs Distinguished Career award