In the workplace, expectations influence behavior. If managers expect their teams to perform well, they likely will. If they expect their teams to perform poorly, that also will likely happen. This self-fulfilling prophecy concept is known as the Pygmalion effect. Romar Learning Solutions explains the Pygmalion effect and how it relates to results-oriented coaching:
Rosenthal and Jacobson (1966)
Researchers Rosenthal and Jacobson coined the phrase “Pygmalion effect” after observing the relationship between expectations and behavior in an elementary school. A random selection of students was chosen, and their teachers were told they demonstrated advanced intellectual development and growth.
At the end of their study, Rosenthal and Jacobson found that the data supported improved growth in the students labeled as “advanced.” So what did they attribute to this growth? With expectations of superior academic performances, teachers began treating their advanced students differently than their other students. This treatment manifested in 4 key ways.
For their “advanced” students, teachers created a warmer socio-emotional climate through nonverbal cues, provided more differentiated feedback, challenged them with more difficult learning material, and provided more opportunities to contribute to classroom discussions.
It’s believed that the teachers’ expectations—and consequently, preferential accommodations—impacted the “advanced” students’ behavior and overall performance.
Pygmalion Management in Results-Oriented Coaching
It’s widely believed that this concept is true in other environments, including the workplace. The way a leader views their team directly impacts that team’s success. Therefore, to drive results and enable team members to reach their full potential, leaders must have high—but realistic—expectations of performance and believe in their ability to lead the team to achieve those expectations.
Interested in learning how you can establish and align on expectations that challenge team members to reach higher performance levels using Pygmalion management? We’ll explore this topic—and much more—in our upcoming Results-Oriented Coaching Skills program. Learn more and REGISTER today!
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