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The science behind how everyday work can become a powerful path to purpose, growth, and fulfillment.
Work is not just something you do. It's constantly doing something to you—shaping who you are. This matters because most of us want to live meaningful lives, stay true to our values, and make a positive difference in the world. We want to be good. Yet work can feel like an obstacle to those goals rather than a path toward them. Do you find yourself wondering whether your job is helping you become the person you aspire to be—or pulling you further away?
In Good at Work, scholars Isaac H. Smith and Maryam Kouchaki offer a refreshing alternative to the familiar advice of looking for meaning outside your career. Drawing on research in psychology, behavioral science, and ethics, they show that the work you do every day can be a powerful force for personal growth, moral development, and lasting fulfillment. With compelling stories and practical tools, they reveal how everyday workplace experiences shape not only what we achieve but who we become.
Readers will explore five common ethical profiles that explain why some people feel trapped in jobs that conflict with their values, why others drift into moral complacency, and why even successful professionals often struggle to find deeper meaning in their work. From ethical decision-making and moral humility to job crafting and contribution-focused leadership, the book provides concrete strategies for closing the gap between who you are today and who you want to become.
A deeply human book, Good at Work powerfully shows that your job doesn't have to compete with your search for meaning—it can become one of your most important tools for building character and becoming your better self.
Isaac H. Smith is an associate professor of organizational behavior at Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Business. His research examines ethics at work, moral character development, and how organizations can help people become their best selves. His work has been published in leading academic and practitioner journals.
Maryam Kouchaki is a professor of management and organizations at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. She is an organizational psychologist and a leading expert on the topic of business ethics. Her research explores the challenges of navigating moral and ethical dilemmas within organizations and the role of business in society. She has published dozens of articles in top-tier scholarly outlets.