The Pygmalion Effect and the Galatea Effects are important management concepts that cannot be under-emphasized. Understanding this and the manifestations of this is essential for talent identification and retention as well as staff motivation strategies to succeed.

1. Implications
for the Boss
& You
The Self-fulfilling Prophecy

2. " I shall always be a
flower girl to Professor
Higgins because he
always treats me as a
flower girl and always
will; but I know I can be
a lady to you because you
always treat me as a lady
and always will.“
Eliza Doolittle, in
Pygmalion by George
Bernard Shaw

3. The Self-fulfilling Prophecy
4 key principles
i. We form certain expectations of
people or events
ii. We communicate these
expectations with various cues
iii. People tend to adjust their
behaviour to match the cues
iv. Result: original expectation
becomes true

4. Formed expectations
communicate
expectations
People adjust
their behaviour

5. 2 powerful researches
• 1971 Rat Research
• Rats randomly passed to
students were told they
were super brilliant maze
rats
• The other half were told
they were dull rats
• Results? Those rats which
were told that they were
brilliant performed well

6. 2nd powerful research
• 1976 Research on human
students
• Worked with elementary
students from 18
California classrooms
• Out of these 18 classes,
20% were randomly
selected
• Teachers were told that
this 20% were very bright

7. Result?
• Experimental group
showed an average IQ
increase of 2% in verbal
ability
• 7% increase in
reasoning
• 4% increase in overall
IQ gain

8. Other Important Findings
• The students who were
given high expectations
about the rats liked the
rats more
• This led to better
treatment of the rats

9. • Every manager has
expectations of their staff,
and they communicate
these either consciously or
unconsciously.
• Employees pick up on
these, either consciously
or unconsciously and
perform in ways that are
consistent with these
expectations.
Implications for HR

10. • If the manager’s
expectations are positive
expectations, then success
is expected.
• Positive cues lead to
positive response
Implications for HR (2)

11. • if the manager fails to
praise a particular
member of staff as much
as he praises others or
spends more time talking
to other members of staff
than a particular
employee, the particular
staff may become
demoralised
Implications for HR (3)

13. There is a stronger effect than the Self-
fulfilling prophecy - Galatea Effect

14. Who was Galatea?
• A name
popularly
applied to the
statue carved of
ivory by
Pygmalion of
Cyprus in Greek
mythology.

15. The Galatea effect is a phenomenon where
people's own opinions about their ability and
self-worth influence their performance.

16. Galatea Effect – In Action
• The Galatea effect
means if employees
think they can
succeed, they will
likely succeed.
• Any actions the manager can take that
increase the employee's feelings of positive
self-worth - will help to improve staff
performance.

17. • Create a positive work
culture
• Facilitate delivery of
consistent messages by all
supervisory staff
• Provide opportunities for
challenging work and
personal development
Galatea Effect -
Recommendations for HR

18. • Project positive feedback
to employee’s success
• Assign new staff members
a mentor/buddy (often a
more senior member of
staff)
• Learn the importance of
active listening
Galatea Effect -
Recommendations for HR (2)

19. Galatea Effect Vs. Pygmalion Effect
• Pygmalion effect is based on the
expectations of others
• Galatea effect is rooted in self-
expectation
• Both effects play an important
role in increasing the productivity
and personal development of
each individual.

20. Advanced recommendations for HR
1. A sound talent management system
should be place in place that includes
identification, training, trailing and
feedback
2. A multiple-channel feedback system is
holistic and should be put in place
(prevents biasness)
3. In everyday activities - Give your staff
the benefit of the doubt
4. A sound and systematic performance
review system

21. "If he is unskilled, he leaves scars on the careers of the
young men (and women), cuts deeply into their self-
esteem and distorts their image of themselves as
human beings. But if he is skillful and has high
expectations of his subordinates, their self-confidence
will grow, their capabilities will develop and their
productivity will be high. More often than he realizes,
the manager is Pygmalion."
J. Sterling Livingston in the
September/October, 1988 Harvard
Business Review.
Conclusion

23. References
1. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/difference-between-galatea-
effect-and-pygmalion-effect.html
2. http://humanresources.about.com/od/managementtips/a/m
gmtsecret.htm
3. http://www.accel-team.com/pygmalion/prophecy_05.html
4. http://www.accel-team.com/pygmalion/prophecy_01.html
5. http://www.realhrconsult.com/nl_5.php
6. http://humanresources.about.com/od/managementtips/a/m
gmtsecret_2.htm
7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCyz1v1dYQg

24. Profile of the Writer
• Founder of
• A training company which
specializes in using clay for
facilitations

25. Profile of the Writer
• Also Principal
Trainer of
• Provides Clay workshops for
children and adults
• Provides clay training for people
with disabilities
• Clay artist
• Educator
• Parent

26. Clients we have
facilitated

27. All the clay pieces in this presentation are
original. For more information on developing
your staff, please contact Leonard 
• Email - tcclayco@gmail.com
• FB - https://www.facebook.com/TheCreativeClayCo
• Blog: http://thecreativeclayco.blogspot.sg/
Contact Us!