“Are You A Pygmalion Professor?” – Professor M.S.Rao

"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 name Pygmalion who fell in love with a female statue he had carved out of ivory. Pygmalion was a Cyprus king who crafted number of 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 of her and prayed 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 about their children, the children will live up to their expectations. Similarly, at workplace when superiors expect more out of their subordinates, they will get 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 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 Pygmalion effect. As success is won twice; first in your reel 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 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 moulds students. He helps students tap and realize their potential by encouraging and expecting best out of them.

If the educators are passionate they can convert dull students as 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 positive response from your students. A good educator must be a Pygmalion Professor at heart as s/he expects and strives 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 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.


Final Word

Pygmalion effect is useful in 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 adopt. 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 Pygmalion effect in all walks of life is in imperative for all round peace, prosperity and success.



Professor M.S.Rao
Founder and Chief Consultant,
MSR Leadership Consultants, India
Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com
Where Knowledge is Wealth
Email: profmsr7@gmail.com



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