"Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be."—Goethe.
The term Pygmalion has its origin where a sculptor by the name of Pygmalion who fell in love with a female statue he had carved out of ivory. Pygmalion was a Cyprus king who crafted several statues. However, he did not like them. When he created an ivory statue of a beautiful woman, Galatea (means sleeping love) he finally fell in love with her. The statue was so amazing that Pygmalion became mad at her and prayed to Aphrodite to give life to the statue. Ultimately Pygmalion was blessed and the beautiful woman breathed life.
From this Greek mythological story, it becomes clear that when you expect more out of others you get more out of them. For instance, when parents expect a lot from their children, the children will live up to their expectations. Similarly, in the workplace when superiors expect more out of their subordinates, they will get the best out of them. Precisely, your outcome is directly proportional to your expectations and aspirations. The term Pygmalion is also associated with Professor Higgins who treated Eliza Doolittle, the heroine as a flower girl in George Bernard Shah’s play ‘Pygmalion’
Importance of Pygmalion Effect
The importance of the Pygmalion effect is manifold in this current complex world. At a time when there is cut-throat competition due to rapid changes in technology, we need to look for innovative ideas and solutions to stay ahead of others. The Pygmalion effect helps lift performance levels in all walks of life. As human potential is unlimited, we can adopt this effect to unlock human potential for ensuring all-round progress and success.
If you expect more you get more is the slogan of the Pygmalion effect. As success is won twice; first in your real life and then in your real life, your outcome depends on your earnest efforts. If you think good, good things will happen; and if you dream big, you become big. Similarly, if your love is true you will succeed in love. When you really love someone and miss then you will get back if you have a Pygmalion mindset.
Are You a Pygmalion Professor?
You may be surprised when I coined the concept of Pygmalion Professor! Pygmalion Professor is the one who counsels, crafts, mentors, and molds students. He helps students tap and realize their potential by encouraging and expecting the best out of them.
If the educators are passionate they can convert dull students into bright students. If they have command in their subject and if their commitment is strong they can arouse interest among the students and influence and impact them. Educator is like a violinist and students are like violins. As a violinist can generate various types of sounds the educators can also generate various techniques to share their knowledge for creating enlightened students.
When you teach with great intentions and passion, you will get a positive response from your students. A good educator must be a Pygmalion Professor at heart as s/he expects and strives for the best out of students. If a professor is passionate s/he can get the best out of students. Pygmalion Professor creates bright students. However, here is a caution! Like the mythological sculptor Pygmalion, the Pygmalion Professor should not fall in love personally with students but must fall in love professionally in developing and grooming students as successful personalities.
A Take-Home Message
The Pygmalion effect is useful in many walks of life. When you lead at home, it is essential; when you lead people at the workplace, you need to demonstrate; when you love someone, you need to adapt. As the saying goes, 'As you sow, so you reap', if you praise your people you get the best out of them. It is like an echo. When you shout good, you hear good, when you shout bad you hear bad. To conclude, adopting the Pygmalion effect in all walks of life is imperative for all-around peace, prosperity, and success.
Share if you care!
“Things You Don’t Know about Professor M. S. Rao” http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2015/10/things-you-dont-know-about-professor-m.html
Read my ‘Vision 2030 One Million Global Leaders’ URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html
Note: I had a brain hemorrhage. I was in bed for five months. My right hand has been numb and paralyzed. I am recovering. Thanks for empathizing with me. With gratitude. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFJrSRLHPUk&ab_channel=ProfessorM.S.Rao
Life is great!
Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.
Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM
Vision 2030: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao
Substack: https://professormsrao.substack.com
X: http://twitter.com/professormsrao
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorMSRao
Meta: https://www.facebook.com/Professor-MS-Rao-451516514937414
See the Light in You: https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132
Thanks for reading!
Kindly share your thoughts and comments below, I’m sure someone out there will find your story useful.
Copyright©2025 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
This is a nonprofit blog to share Professor M.S. Rao’s passion and vision to build one million students as global leaders by 2030. Please don't cut articles from my blog; redistribute them by email or post them on the web. The use of this material is free provided the copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com. This material may not be sold, published in any form, or used in the provision of business services to a third party without permission.
