Smarter Faster Better explores the science of productivity and describes various strategies and techniques to become more effective and efficient in our personal and professional lives. Duhigg examines the habits and behaviors of successful individuals and organizations and uncovers the key principles that drive their achievements.

Smarter Faster Better

[Smarter Faster Better](https://amzn.to/3KuIktr) explores the science of productivity and describes various strategies and techniques to become more effective and efficient in our personal and professional lives. Duhigg examines the habits and behaviors of successful individuals and organizations and uncovers the key principles that drive their achievements.

Key Principles
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### 1 . Setting Stretch Goals

*   Stretch goals should be ambitious but attainable.
*   They should be specific and quantifiable to provide clarity and focus.
*   Stretch goals challenge and motivate individuals to perform at their best.
*   Google's ambitious target is to build the first self-driving car, which is individuals striving for personal bests in sports.

### 2 . Mental Models

*   Mental models are cognitive frameworks used to understand the world.
*   Effective mental models help us make better decisions and solve problems more efficiently.
*   Developing a variety of mental models can enhance our decision-making abilities.
*   The "fire drill" mental model for handling crises and the "checklist" mental model for reducing errors in complex tasks.

### 3 . Motivation

*   Intrinsic motivation, driven by a sense of autonomy, purpose, and mastery, leads to better performance.
*   Motivation is increased when individuals have a clear sense of control over their work.
*   Key elements of motivation include small wins, experiencing a sense of purpose, and maintaining a growth mindset.
*   Encouraging employees to develop their skills and take ownership of their projects incentivizes achievements with small rewards.

### 4 . Fostering Innovation

*   A culture that encourages experimentation and risk-taking fosters innovation.
*   Creating psychological safety within teams promotes the sharing of ideas and collaboration.
*   Diverse teams are more likely to generate innovative solutions by challenging conventional thinking.
*   Google's "20% time" policy, where employees are encouraged to work on personal projects, companies promoting cross-functional teams.

### 5 . Absorbing Data

*   Effective data absorption involves understanding how to extract useful insights from a sea of information.
*   Data should be analyzed systematically, focusing on key metrics and patterns.
*   Visualization tools and storytelling techniques can aid in comprehending and communicating data.
*   Using data analytics to identify trends in customer behavior and creating visual dashboards to monitor business metrics.

### 6 . Making Decisions

*   Effective decision-making involves weighing probabilities and considering various scenarios.
*   Utilizing probabilistic thinking and considering multiple options can help make better decisions.
*   Encouraging dissent and seeking diverse perspectives can improve decision outcomes.
*   Using decision-making frameworks such as the "premortem" technique, seeking feedback from diverse stakeholders.

### 7 . Building Teams

*   Effective teams have psychological safety, share a common purpose, and utilize the skills of their members.
*   Psychological safety is built through trust, open communication, and respect.
*   Teams should have a clear sense of purpose that aligns with individual goals.
*   High-functioning sports teams with strong communication and trust, companies fostering a culture of collaboration.

### 8 . Create Focus

*   Developing mental focus involves eliminating distractions and maintaining attention to the task at hand.
*   Cultivating a habit of mindfulness and minimizing multitasking can enhance focus.
*   Setting clear priorities and utilizing effective time management techniques help optimize productivity.
*   Using productivity techniques like the Pomodoro technique and practicing mindfulness meditation.

Smarter Faster Better

The Transformative Power of Real Productivity

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