The Pygmalion Effect: Leadership Lessons That Still Hold Weight
It’s funny how memories sneak up on us.
The other day, I was suddenly reminded of a salad I used to love from a café near one of my early workplaces. That random association led me down a trail of reflection—and surprisingly, to one of the very first leadership programs I ever designed.
Back then, I was new to the field of learning and development, working in a healthcare system. One of my first assignments was creating a program around employee recognition. I remember building it around the Pygmalion Effect—a concept I had admired—and how people tend to rise (or fall) to the expectations placed upon them.
I don’t recall all the details of the program, but I do remember referencing George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion and using Eliza Doolittle’s transformation as a metaphor. The department heads and especially the therapists loved the concept. Of course they did—it resonated on both a practical and human level.
What Is the Pygmalion Effect?
The Pygmalion Effect, also known as the self-fulfilling prophecy, is the idea that our beliefs about others can influence their behavior and performance. When we believe in someone’s potential, they’re more likely to live into that belief. It’s a concept rooted in Shaw’s play Pygmalion, in which Eliza Doolittle, a working-class flower girl, is transformed into a poised and articulate woman under Professor Henry Higgins—not just because of the lessons she receives, but because of the belief placed in her.
Why It Still Matters
This concept struck me recently because—even though it felt old when I first used it—it still holds weight. Not only in how we treat others, but in how we treat ourselves.
Our expectations shape more than performance—they shape perception, energy, and outcomes. When we expect more of ourselves, we often rise to meet it. When we believe the world can support our growth, we’re more likely to take the steps to create that outcome.
Of course, life is complex. Tragedies happen. Not everything is within our control. But when we view the world through the lens of energy, as I often do in my coaching practice, we begin to recognize the power of perspective and choice.
We can see opportunity or competition. We can view the world through scarcity or abundance. We can respond to challenges from a place of reactivity—or a place of curiosity and growth.
When we shift our expectations—with intention—we shift outcomes.
A Leadership Reflection
So here’s my encouragement for this month:
Revisit the expectations you hold—of your team, your peers, and yourself. Are they expansive or limiting? Are they rooted in past stories, or current possibility?
Because whether you're leading others or navigating your own path, what you believe matters. People rise to the level of your belief in them—and we rise to the level of belief we hold in ourselves.
