About the Book

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 maximize their time and performance.

Hansen codifies the most actionable insights from his research to show how we can work smarter instead of harder by selecting a few activities and applying intense targeted effort, and highlights stories of individuals from all walks of life who have done this. 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.

Each chapter contains questions and key insights to allow you to assess your own performance and determine your work strengths, as well as your weaknesses. Once you understand your individual style, there are mini-quizzes, questionnaires, and clear tips to assist your focus. Extensive, accessible, and friendly, Great at Work will help you achieve more by working less.

Advance Praise

Adam Grant

“In an ambitious new study, Morten Hansen illuminates the habits that separate superstars from their peers. This is the definitive guide to working smarter.”

Adam Grant

New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take, Originals, and Option B (with Sheryl Sandberg)

Chip Heath

“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.”

Chip Heath

Professor Stanford Graduate School of Business, and author of three New York Times bestsellers, including Switch

Carol Dweck

“Some managers and employees are star performers. We’ve always wanted to know why, and now Morten Hansen tells us. It’s not because they work longer or harder than everyone else. It’s because they adopt a “growth mindset” and find ways to work smarter. This magnificent study of over 5,000 employees reveals exactly what these stars do and is a landmark contribution to understanding the roots of professional success.”

Carol Dweck

author of Mindset

Morten Hansen

About Morten Hansen

Morten T. Hansen is a management professor at University of California, Berkeley. He is the coauthor (with Jim Collins) of the New York Times bestseller Great by Choice and the author of the highly acclaimed Collaboration and Great at Work.

Formerly a professor at Harvard Business School and INSEAD (France), professor Hansen holds a PhD from Stanford Business School, where he was a Fulbright scholar. His academic research has won several prestigious awards, and he is ranked one of the world’s most influential management thinkers by Thinkers50. Morten Hansen was also a manager at the Boston Consulting Group, where he advised corporate clients worldwide. Morten travels the world to give keynotes and help companies and people become great at work.

Other Books by Morten Hansen