Award-winning psychologist Ron Friedman uses the latest research from the fields of motivation, creativity, behavioral economics, neuroscience, and management to reveal what really makes us successful at work. Combining powerful stories with cutting-edge findings, Friedman shows leaders at every level how they can use scientifically proven techniques to promote smarter thinking, greater innovation, and stronger performance.

Introduction: A tale of two menus ----- PART ONE: DESIGNING AN EXTRAORDINARY WORKPLACE EXPERIENCE --- 1. Success is overrated: why great workplaces reward failure. --- 2. The power of place: how office design shapes our thinking. --- 3. Why you should be paid to play. --- 4. What happy workplaces can learn from a casino. --- 5. How to turn a group of strangers into a community. ----- PART TWO: MOTIVATING EXCELLENCE --- 6. The leadership paradox: why forceful leaders develop less productive teams. --- 7. Better than money: what games can teach us about motivation. --- 8. How thinking like a hostage negotiator can make you more persuasive, influential, and motivating. --- 9. Why the best managers focus on themselves. ----- PART THREE: ATTRACTING AND RETAINING TOP PERFORMERS --- 10. Seeing what others don't: how to eliminate interview blind spots that prevent you from reading people's true potential. --- 11. What sports, politics, and religion teach us about fostering pride. --- CONCLUSION: Three keys to creating an extraordinary workplace.