Advances in the behavioral sciences are giving us an ever-better understanding of how our brains work, why we make the choices we do, and what it takes for us to be at our best. But it hasn’t always been easy to see how to apply these insights in real life – until now. In How to Have a Good Day, behavioral economist and former McKinsey partner Caroline Webb translates three big scientific ideas into step-by-step guidance that enables us to make every day feel more like our best days, using seven key ideas to show us how to take more control over the quality of our days – whether the “day job” sees us in an office, a studio, outdoors or at home.
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How to Have a Good Day: Harness the Power of Behavioral Science to Transform Your Working Life
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What our readers say
How to Have a Good Day is a smart, thorough, and eminently practical book. Just about every page offers a science-based tip to help you become better off — or, in many cases, just plain better.
Finally, a practical book based on evidence. How to Have a Good Day is grounded in state-of-the-art research on behavior and neuroscience, and animated with vivid examples from professionals who have successfully applied Webb’s advice. It might even leave you looking forward to your next tricky conversation or challenging task as an opportunity to try out her tips
— Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell is Human, Drive and When
— Adam Grant, Wharton professor and New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take and Originals
“Webb has given us a great gift: she has synthesized all the advice coming out of labs around the world, filtered it for quality, and illustrated it with well-chosen examples. The appendices alone will save you dozens of hours per year — particularly on email — and help you create more great days for yourself. This is the only self-improvement book you will need in the next five years.”
“Finally, a practical book based on evidence. How to Have a Good Day is grounded in state-of-the-art research on behavior and neuroscience, and animated with vivid examples from professionals who have successfully applied Webb’s advice. It might even leave you looking forward to your next tricky conversation or challenging task as an opportunity to try out her tips”
“How to Have a Good Day speaks to every area of your workday, and shows how making a few critical adjustments to your everyday behavior will leave you amazed by the results. By applying the lessons in Webb’s book, all based on neuroscience, you’ll both maximize your performance and be more energized than ever.”
“This is a brilliantly useful book. Caroline Webb has a quite exceptional range of organisational experience. She uses it to review a vast span of the latest academic ‘thinking about thinking’ in the clearest possible way. And then she applies this wisdom to help us all sort out the frazzle of our own working day. Her approach is utterly straightforward but based in deep insights into how human beings really behave. And she chases away the time-honoured follies that many business people still insist on living their lives by (even though they no longer work, and never did).”
““Imagine what your life would be like if you could simply ‘choose’ to have a good day. Webb makes a powerful case that we can. Best of all, she shows us how. Webb gets her arms around the vast body of information coming at us from behavioral economics, psychology, and neuroscience, and distills the best of it into the kind of practical advice a wise friend might offer. It’s the book Daniel Kahneman might write if he’d been working in the business world for twenty years. Masterful.”
“An absolute must read for the millions of people struggling to overcome the challenges and stresses of work and family life. Caroline Webb’s deep dive into ground-breaking new behavioral and neuroscience research gives us the tools to empower everyone to have a better, more fulfilling day, every day. Finally, we can say, ‘Good morning,’ and mean it!”
Buy the book today
North American Edition: How to Have a Good Day
How to Have a Good Day was hailed by Forbes as one of the “must-read business books of 2016,” described by Fortune as one of their top “self-improvement through data” books, and listed by Inc as one of the best 15 leadership and personal development books of the past five years. Written in an accessible, engaging style for anyone with an interest in evidence-based self-improvement, the book has been widely lauded in the media, winning plaudits from publications as diverse as the Financial Times, TIME magazine, and Cosmopolitan. It’s been described by Susan Cain as “extraordinary”, Cass Sunstein as “wise and humane,” Tom Peters as “magisterial,” and Dan Pink as “smart, thorough, and eminently practical.” (You can read more endorsements below.) How to Have a Good Day has so far been published in 13 languages and more than 60 countries.
Hungarian Edition: Minden Nap A Te Napod
Published: November 2017
Caroline Webb hosszú évek tapasztalatait, valamint a közgazdaságtan, a pszichológia és a viselkedéstudományok eredményeit sűrítette össze ebben a kötetben, hogy megossza az olvasókkal, miként tudunk mentálisan és érzelmileg is kiteljesedni, fejlődni a munkánkban. Egy átlagos napunkat lefedve a könyv megmutatja, hogy néhány kulcsfontosságú változtatás a viselkedésünkben miként vezethet lenyűgöző eredményekhez. Tudományos alapokra épülő tanácsaival maximálhatjuk a teljesítményünket, és több energiánk lesz, mint valaha.
Megtanuljuk, hogy…
miként osszuk be hatékonyan az időnket, és hogyan állítsunk fel fontossági sorrendet;
hogyan hozzuk ki a legtöbbet az emberi interakciókból és tegyünk jó benyomást másokra;
hogyan hozzunk kreatív és bölcs döntéseket;
miként viszonyuljunk nagyobb rugalmassággal a nehézségekhez;
miként találhatunk több örömet a munkában, és hogyan tehetünk szert több sikerélményre.
A Minden nap a te napodat a Forbes 2016-ban a legfontosabb üzleti könyvek közé sorolta, többek között a Financial Times és a Time magazin is elismerő kritikát közölt róla. Tizenhét nyelven, több mint hatvan országban jelent meg.
French Edition: Passer une bonne journée au bureau, c’est possible
Published: September 2017
Emploi du temps surchargé, stress, crainte de ne pas être reconnu à sa juste valeur ou au contraire de ne pas être à la hauteur… Pour nombre d’entre nous, la vie en entreprise s’apparente bien souvent à un parcours du combattant.
Et pourtant, passer une bonne journée au bureau, c’est possible! Grace à une méthode simple et imparable, inspirée à la fois des dernières recherches en sciences cognitives et comportementales et de sa propre expérience de coach en entreprise, Caroline Webb nous apprend comment booster notre bonne humeur et notre énergie tout au long de la journée afin de mieux gérer nos priorités, d’aborder plus sereinement nos tâches quotidiennes et de favoriser des rapports harmonieux avec nos collègues. Sans oublier, bien sûr, tout un tas d’astuces pour en finir avec les avalanches de mails, les réunions interminables et les conflits inutiles.
Un ouvrage efficace, bourré d’optimisme et ô combien salutaire, pour tirer le meilleur de soi-même et être, enfin, heureux au bureau!
Portuguese Edition: Tenha Um Bom Dia!
Published: March 2017
Caroline Webb, economista e antiga partner da consultora McKinsey, mostra aos leitores as mais recentes descobertas no campo da economia comportamental, da psicologia e da neurociência que poderão alterar a sua vida. Mais do que um livro, este é um guia que lhe apresenta estratégias para obter a energia necessária de forma a conseguir mais sucesso na sua vida profissional e pessoal, facultando as ferramentas imprescindíveis para que o seu dia a dia seja mais feliz.
UK & Commonwealth: How to Have a Good Day
Published: January 2017
In How to Have a Good Day, economist and former McKinsey partner Caroline Webb shows readers how to use recent findings from behavioral economics, psychology, and neuroscience to transform our approach to everyday working life. Advances in these behavioral sciences are giving us ever better understanding of how our brains work, why we make the choices we do, and what it takes for us to be smart and savvy. But it’s not always been easy to see how to apply these insights in the workplace – until now. In How to Have a Good Day, Webb explains how three big scientific ideas can help us be at our best every day. She shows us exactly how to apply this science to our plans, tasks and conversations, in step-by-step guidance that allows us to: set better priorities; make the hours go further; turn every interaction into a success; strengthen our personal impact; be resilient in the face of setbacks; and sustain our energy over the course of the day. Webb teaches us how to be at our best under pressure, and gives us specific tools to tackle common work challenges – from conflict with colleagues, to dull meetings and packed inboxes. Filled with stories of people who have used Webb’s insights to boost their job satisfaction and performance at work, How to Have a Good Day is the book so many people wanted when they finished Nudge, Blink and Thinking Fast and Slow, and were looking for practical ways to apply this fascinating science to their own lives and careers. A remarkable and much needed book, How to Have a Good Day firmly delivers on its promise, showing us all how to have a lifetime of good days.
Italian Edition: Have A Good Day
Published: October 2016
Chissà perché, tendiamo sempre a vedere il lavoro come un male inevitabile, un peso da portarci sulle spalle giorno dopo giorno, mentre contiamo le ore che ci separano dal week-end. Ma se ci fosse un modo per vivere tutto con più piacere e soddisfazione, qualunque sia il nostro impiego? D’accordo, alcune cose non cambieranno mai, ma la buona notizia è che abbiamo molte più possibilità di scelta di quanto crediamo. Basandosi sulle ultime, intriganti scoperte scientifiche sui segreti della mente, Caroline Webb ci aiuta a prendere coscienza dei meccanismi del pensiero e ci insegna a sfruttarli a nostro vantaggio attraverso una serie di tecniche semplici ed efficaci per diventare più efficienti, creativi, costruttivi e resilienti, in ufficio come nella vita privata: un bagaglio prezioso per vedere il lato positivo e lo stimolo giusto in ogni situazione. Per rientrare a casa la sera con la sensazione di aver vissuto davvero una buona giornata.
Brazilian Edition: Como Ter Um Dia Ideal
Published: September 2016
Através de técnicas simples baseadas em pesquisas científicas de economia, psicologia e neurociência, Caroline Webb ajuda você a melhorar seu dia a dia
Em Como ter um dia ideal, Caroline Webb mostra que é possível usar as recentes descobertas da economia comportamental, da psicologia e da neurociência para transformar nossa relação com o cotidiano profissional.
Avanços nessas ciências nos oferecem um melhor entendimento de como nosso cérebro funciona, por que fazemos as escolhas que fazemos e o que é necessário para conseguirmos dar o melhor de nós. Webb explica como aplicar essas descobertas em nossas tarefas e rotinas diárias e, assim, lidar melhor com os desafios do ambiente de trabalho moderno — dos conflitos com colegas a reuniões tediosas e caixas de entrada lotadas — com destreza e facilidade.
Spanish Edition: Cómo Tener Un Buen Día
Published: September 2016
En este libro, la economista y antigua socia de McKinsey, Caroline Webb, explica a los lectores cómo utilizar los hallazgos recientes de la economía conductual, la psicología y la neurociencia para transformar el enfoque de la vida laboral cotidiana. Webb nos enseña a enfrentarnos a los desafíos de los lugares de trabajo modernos, desde los conflictos con los colegas hasta las reuniones aburridas, pasando por las bandejas de entrada rebosantes, para tener una vida llena de días buenos.
Korean Edition: 무엇이 평범한 그들을 최고로 만들었을까
Published: July 2016
맥킨지 출신 초일류 컨설턴트가 만난 글로벌 인재들의 공통점!
『무엇이 평범한 그들을 최고로 만들었을까』는 십수 년간 맥킨지 파트너로 일한 일류 경영 컨설턴트 캐럴라인 웹이 그동안 만나온 글로벌 인재들의 생생한 경험담을 통해 자기 분야에서 특출한 성공을 거둔 사람들이 공통적으로 가지고 있는 특성을 전한다. 캐럴라인 웹은 뇌과학 이론과 행동과학 이론을 빌려 현재까지 시행된 다양한 연구 실험과 거기에서 도출된 신빙성 있는 이론을 토대로 일상생활과 직장에서 일어나는 수많은 변수에 어떻게 대처할지, 성과를 많이 내는 사람이 되기 위해 어떤 습관을 버려야 하며 업무에 방해되는 잠재의식의 작용으로 무엇이 있는지 전한다. 아울러 저자의 조언을 활용해 직무 만족도를 높인 사람들의 실제 사례를 다수 소개한다.
매일 최고의 컨디션을 유지하며 언제 어디서나 막강한 영향력을 발휘하고 무슨 일을 하든 퍼펙트하게 해내는 사람들은 과연 처음부터 유능하고 비범한 면모만을 과시했을까? 캐럴라인 웹의 컨설팅 경험에 따르면 절대 그렇지 않다고 말한다. 그녀가 만난 수많은 전문가들은 현재 내로라하는 기업의 대표직에 있거나 임원급에 있는 유능한 사람들이나, 그들도 과거에는 수많은 시행착오에 부딪히고 고민에 고민을 거듭해온 평범한 직장인들이었다. 책은 시간과 사람 그리고 육체라는, 모두에게 똑같이 주어진 한정된 자원을 어떻게 이용해야 에너지를 최대한 아끼며 최고의 생산성을 발휘할 수 있는가를 매우 상세하고 친절하게 일러준다.
Romanian Edition: Cum Să Ai O Zi Bună
Published: July 2016
Datorită progresului făcut în domeniul ştiinţelor comportamentale, acum putem înţelege mult mai profund modul în care funcţionează creierele noastre, motivele pentru care facem anumite alegeri şi metodele prin care putem deveni cei mai buni. Până de curând însă, nu a fost la fel de uşor să vedem cum funcționează acest mecanism în lumea reală.
În Cum să ai o zi bună, Caroline Webb explică exact cum să aplicăm informaţiile ştiinţifice în sarcinile și ritualurile noastre zilnice. Autoarea decodifică trei mari idei ştiinţifice într-un ghid care ne arată pas cu pas cum să ne stabilim priorităţile, cum să ne folosim timpul la maximum, cum să ne descurcăm cu brio în orice interacţiune, cum să ne comportăm cât mai inteligent, cum să ne întărim impactul personal, cum să fim rezilienţi în faţa obstacolelor şi cum să ne stimulăm energia şi bucuria. În plus, Caroline Webb ne învaţă cum să navigăm cu graţie şi uşurinţă printre provocările tipice locurilor de muncă moderne, de la conflictele cu colegii, până la şedinţele plictisitoare şi căsuţele de email prea pline.
O carte remarcabilă şi foarte necesară, Cum să ai o zi bună ne oferă instrumentele de care avem nevoie pentru a trăi o viaţă plină de zile bune.
În Cum să ai o zi bună, Caroline Webb, economist, consultant în management şi coach executiv, le arată cititorilor cum să folosească descoperirile recente din domeniul economiei comportamentale, al psihologiei şi al neuroştiinţelor pentru a-şi transforma viaţa profesională.
Complex/Traditional Chinese Edition: 好日子革新手冊
Published: June 2016
一天過得好不好，不再只是運氣問題。
如何擺脫「上班一條蟲，下班一條龍」的生活方式，把每一天變成最好的一天？
◆ 《企業》及《富比士》雜誌2016年度最佳必讀商管書。
◆ 《財富》雜誌最佳資訊類自我成長書籍。
◆ 800-CEO-READ權威商業書評網：「有些書提供承諾，卡洛琳‧韋伯則給了行動與答案。」
◆ 《未來在等待的銷售人才》作者丹尼爾‧品克、《安靜，就是力量》作者蘇珊‧坎恩同聲推薦。
◆ 已翻譯成十七種語言，在六十國出版。
◆ 「接下來五年，書架上有這本自助書就夠了。」──《好人總是自以為是》作者，強納森‧海德特
經濟學家、前麥肯錫合夥人卡洛琳‧韋伯（Caroline Webb）從行為經濟學、心理學、腦神經科學近日的研究出發，協助讀者改造每日的工作生活。
行為科學的進展讓現代人更加瞭解大腦運作的方式。我們人是如何做出選擇、怎麼樣才能拿出自己最好的一面，現在都有了解釋。不過如何把科學上的發現應用在生活中，有時不是那麼清楚，因此本書跳出來助大家一臂之力。
本書一個步驟、一個步驟教大家把三大科學概念運用在日常生活之中。現代職場有許多常見的挑戰。同事很難搞？開會很無聊？信箱塞爆不知道該怎麼辦？這些問題作者都有解答。只要我們增強活力與個人影響力，排出每件事的輕重緩急，讓一天不只是二十四小時，我們其實可以輕鬆、順利地面對一個又一個難關。此外，平日的人際互動要抓準人性，協助自己、也協助他人克服大腦的當機時刻，一起享受精力充沛的工作生活。
本書舉出真人真事，介紹眾多人士如何靠著作者的建議改善工作滿意度與績效。本書可說是職場版的《推出你的影響力》（Nudge）、《決斷兩秒間》（Blink）與《快思慢想》（Thinking Fast and Slow），協助讀者將引人入勝的科學發現應用在人生與工作上。
誰不希望每天過得開開心心？一天要過得順利，其實有方法，本書協助大家不再被外在的環境牽著鼻子走，活出一生的好日子。
Japanese Edition: 最高の自分を引き出す 脳が喜ぶ仕事術
Published: May 2016
マッキンゼーのシニアアドバイザーによる“科学的根拠のある“仕事術。
行動経済学・脳科学・心理学の最新知識と著者自身のコンサル事例を踏まえ、毎日のパフォーマンスを劇的に高め、心身ともに健康に過ごす方法を幅広く伝授する。
「あふれかえるメールの処理、目標設定の方法、身体の整え方、一番やりたくない仕事から少しでも楽しみを見つける方法」など、日常業務でぶつかる大小さまざまな課題について「まず脳の動きを理解し、脳が快適になることを優先すれば成果が出やすい」という科学的根拠あるビジネスハックを紹介してくれる。
最高の自分を引き出す7つの要素
まず最初に……脳を支える2大システム(熟考vs自動)を活用して
優先順位をつけて1日の方向性を設定する
生産性を高めて時間をもっと有効に使う
すべての仕事において……無意識を支える2大モード(防衛vs発見)を自覚して
あらゆる人間関係を最大限に活用する
聡明で、知的で、創造的な自分になる思考力を
言葉や行動の影響力を最大化する
1日を通して……心と身体のループを改善して
レジリエンスを高めて問題に賢く対処する
熱意と楽しみを高めるエネルギーを
Dutch Edition: Het Recept Voor Een Goede Dag
Published: March 2016
Ons feilbare denken meets Getting things done! Onderzoekers als Kahneman, Pink en Ariely hebben aangetoond dat we beter zouden kunnen denken, beslissen en omgaan met onzekerheid. Maar hoe breng je die wetenschap in de praktijk? Kun je je leven anders inrichten? Caroline Webb werkt al vijftien jaar met wetenschappelijk bewezen effectiviteitsadviezen. Zij verzamelde alle recente kennis op het gebied van psychologie, gedragseconomie en neurologie en schreef op basis daarvan dit praktijkboek. Het staat boordevol tips, adviezen en verklaringen. Het helpt je productiever te werken, gesprekken en samenwerking te verbeteren, scherper te redeneren en meer invloed op je omgeving te krijgen. Het geeft je ook nog adviezen om beter om te gaan met de onvermijdelijke tegenslag. Het recept voor een goede dag is opgebouwd rond de volgende themas:
prioriteiten stellen
productiviteit
relaties onderhouden
denken en beslissen
beïnvloeden en beïnvloed worden
weerbaarheid en veerkracht
energie en vitaliteit
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