Pygmalion in management

Abstract

Pygmalion was a sculptor in Greek mythology who carved a statue of a beautiful woman that subsequently was brought to life. George Bernard Shaw's play, "Pygmalion" (the basis for the musical hit, "My Fair Lady"), has a somewhat similar theme; the essence is that one person, by his effort and will, can transform another person. And in the world of management, many executives play Pygmalion-like roles in developing able subordinates and in stimulating their performance. What is the secret of the success? How are they different from managers who fail to develop top-notch subordinates? And what are the implications of all this for the problem of excessive turnover and disillusionment among talented young people in business? Such are the questions discusses here. The title of the article was inspired by "Pygmalion in the Classroom," a book by Professor Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson that describes the effect of expectations on the intellectual development of children.