Work is done whenever a force makes something move in the direction of the force:
work done (J) = force (N) × distance moved in the direction of the force (m)
W = F × s
One joule of work is done when a force of one newton moves an object one metre. Work done against friction is transferred to the thermal store of the object and its surroundings, which is why brakes and rubbed hands get hot.
Power is the rate of doing work, or the rate of energy transfer:
P = work donetime taken
A more powerful machine does the same work in less time.