Introducing "Food for Thought" #60. The formula is simple: three short messages once a week to feed your mind.
Motivation
When your beliefs become reality
The Pygmalion effect is a self-fulfilling prophecy. The principle is simple: believing in one's potential for success increases one's chances of success.
This principle was first explored in the field of education in 1968 by psychologist Robert Rosenthal. Without relying on facts, he informed teachers that a specific group of pupils in a disadvantaged school possessed exceptional potential. The teachers' new belief had a significant impact on these students, dramatically improving their academic performance.
Management
The Pygmalion effect in management
Just as a teacher's belief boosts student performance, a manager who believes in his team will improve its chances of success. The manager will unconsciously change his or her behavior:
- Give them more recognition;
- Put them in winning situations;
- Develop their skills;
- Give them more responsibility;
- Make it easier to offer them a promotion.
Impact
How do you transform someone's wrong beliefs?
"He doesn't do the job. He's not reliable. He's not talkable. He has a bad attitude." Whatever your internal discourse, here are a few ways to transform your negative beliefs:
- Awareness. Observe the words you use to talk about this person. Negative speech = negative belief.
- Factual assessment. Are the beliefs you hold based on impressions or facts?
- Change-oriented dialogue. Instead of judging, arouse curiosity and ask questions. Put forward change-oriented dialogue in one-on-one sessions with the employee.
- Tracking progress. Work together to set measurable objectives. This will help you focus on objective criteria rather than subjective impressions.
- Celebrate success. Build the relationship together by celebrating how far we've come.
