Imagine if simply believing in someone could elevate their potential beyond what they thought possible.
This is the essence of the Pygmalion effect—a powerful reminder that our expectations can shape reality. Whether it’s a teacher inspiring students or a leader guiding a team, the power of belief can be the catalyst for exceptional results.
In Ovid’s book, Pygmalion is a Greek sculptor who creates an exquisite sculpture of a woman.
Pygmalion falls in love with his creation, and during Aphrodite’s festival, he asks the goddess to grant him a woman as beautiful as his sculpture. Upon returning home, he kisses the statue and feels warmth on its lips—the marble has come to life. Pygmalion marries the woman, and they have a son. In modern times, this tale echoes what some call the “Pinocchio Effect,” where a creation comes to life in response to a heartfelt wish.
The Pygmalion effect, as described by Prof. Robert Rosenthal, refers to the power of expectations on outcomes: higher expectations often lead to higher performance.
Rosenthal conducted two key experiments in 1963. In the first, he worked with Lenore Jacobson in a California school. At the beginning of the year, all the pupils took a General Ability Test. Some students were then randomly labeled as “academic bloomers.” Teachers were led to believe these students would excel, and by the end of the year, those students showed significant improvements in IQ compared to their peers. The teachers’ belief in these students’ potential led to better outcomes.
In the second experiment, Rosenthal gave rats to two groups of students, telling the first group that their rats were genetically enhanced for cognitive skills, while the second group received “normal” rats. In reality, none of the rats were genetically modified. However, the first group’s belief in their rats’ abilities led to better performance in navigating mazes.
In the organizational context, this means leaders wield significant power to uplift their teams simply by believing in them and fostering a culture of trust. Encouraging creativity, embracing failure as part of the learning process, and fostering an experimental mindset all contribute to better outcomes. The successes of innovations like Gmail and AdSense are rooted in environments where experimentation was encouraged. This aligns with the ideas from Leading Through Chaos, which emphasize the importance of guiding teams effectively through uncertainty.
However, there is also the Golem effect—the opposite of the Pygmalion effect. When leaders lack trust in their teams, it leads to poor performance, a narrow mindset, and stifled creativity. Leaders must recognize and combat these negative dynamics to create an inspiring environment that empowers teams. True team autonomy and creativity are achieved through the Pygmalion effect, where trust and belief unlock the potential for greatness.
As Winston Churchill said, “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
