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The Pygmalion Effect in the Workplace

Happiness at Work, Leadership, Motivation, Workplace Culture / My Holland

The Pygmalion effect at work, a psychological phenomenon where high expectations lead to greater performance. Perhaps you were in a situation when someone asked you to do something you thought was beyond your abilities. But in the end, you accomplished what initially seemed an impossible task. Expect much from others and there’s a great chance they’ll deliver much if not greater. This is what happened to you. It’s not an isolated case. In many elementary schools, children grouped with brilliant students tend to achieve more. Also, leaders who hold employees to higher standards result in better performance. However, when expectations are lower, results are mediocre at best. Yes, how people are viewed and treated has a bearing on their behavior. This is the Pygmalion effect at work, a psychological phenomenon where high expectations lead to greater performance. So, you might think that all you have to do is expect more from others for them to achieve more. It’s not that simple. The Pygmalion Effect is just one factor. But, before holding colleagues and loved ones to higher expectations, keep the following in mind. >> Be Realistic Are your expectations attainable? Goals aren’t only measurable. These should be reachable too. Asking a sales force to double production by yearend may sound possible to some businesses, but not for others. When you hold people to your expectations, be sure they can achieve desired results. Accountants can’t create a marketing plan unless they have the skill and experience. Besides, that’s not the primary function of a CPA. The key is to understand what each person is capable of doing. So, take time to know them before you set expectations. >> Remain positive If, on the first try, people don’t reach goals, don’t lower your expectations. An employee not succeeding the first time doesn’t necessarily mean a lack of ability. Leaders often communicate what they think of others’ abilities without saying it. They convey their confidence, or lack of it, through nonverbal cues. So, be honest in your continuous belief in employees and their potential. Never fake it. Also, remind them that failure is a learning process. It is one necessary step that gets people closer to success. >> Don’t underestimate self-fulfilling prophecies Negative self-talk leads to self-doubt. Many underachievers need a little push in the right direction. Take time to encourage and motivate with high expectations. When employees realize others have faith in them, their mindset changes and performance improves. Yes, you can! When said with conviction, these three words can change people’s lives. Remain consistent and soon, employees will meet or exceed your expectations.

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Don’t Forget Your Staff During Uncertainties

Compassion, Engagement, Happiness at Work, Leadership, Workplace Culture / My Holland

Most companies are focused on the bottom line because of COVID 19. Nobody can blame them. There are too many unknowns and yes, if businesses go belly up, everyone suffers. As a leader, keep your employees in mind when making hard decisions. Remember, they’re your most important asset and most affected during uncertainties. If they feel they aren’t being looked after enough, morale and productivity go down. How To Support Your Staff During Uncertainties? So, you must show support in difficult times. This doesn’t just mean paying them more. There are other ways and here are some. » Be flexible. Have you considered a hybrid work setting? If you’re exploring ways to save money, this could be a win-win situation for you and your staff. This arrangement allows employees to work remotely. Maybe some of them don’t need to come to the office to accomplish their tasks. You can only require them to be physically present on certain days of the week. » Show empathy. Now is the time to put yourself in the shoes of your employees. During uncertainties, perhaps the topmost in their minds would be health and job security. Consider how your staff will view the changes you plan to implement. You get to fine-tune your message before making announcements. » Emphasize health. For now, COVID 19 will remain a threat to everyone. Some organizations allow a hybrid work arrangement to ensure the workplace isn’t crowded. Many businesses upgrade their insurance plans to include COVID 19 treatment. Others provide services that look after their employees’ mental health. Why not promote better hygiene to prevent the spread of diseases? There are many ways you can show your staff you care about their well-being. The example above, for instance, will not cost you much. » Communicate often with your employees. The memo is no longer sufficient today. As a leader, you should get out of your shell and talk to your employees. Don’t forget you can meet them virtually. Your communication should be clear and consistent. Also, don’t forget to ask for feedback. Get your staff engaged by sharing problems they might be able to solve. Be transparent and try not to sugarcoat. Difficult times call for honest leaders.

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Wellness Statistics You Should be Aware Of

Brain, Happiness at Work, Mindfulness, Productivity / My Holland

The next time you see a lethargic employee dozing off, it might be more than just a lack of sleep. Telling an employee to go home early and get some rest may not be enough. There are underlying causes that leaders or bosses should know. It’s not employees are just physically exhausted. They can be mentally, emotionally and psychologically tired too. Their well-being might also be at stake! Organizations should be watchful and recognize which employees exhibit the signs above. The things you should know. First, a study showed that front-line employees are the most susceptible to burnout. Those who deal with customers daily can feel drained at the end of the day. Second, the same study found that 16% of employees experience work conditions that affect their sleep. Again, this should be a wake-up call for management. Third, 25% of employees feel exhausted after an average day at work. Fourth, about a third of employees start the day low on energy. The personal lives of employees can affect their job performance. For instance, most people think of bills to pay, the health of loved ones and the state of their personal relationships. It’s easy to tell them to remain focused while at work. But, if workplace conditions increase stress and anxiety, employees and the organization suffer. The things you can do. 1. Assign functions judiciously. As a means of staying afloat or profitable, organizations usually downsize. Additional responsibilities are passed on to the remaining employees. It’s common now for departments to take charge of functions unrelated to their area of expertise. It’s best for management to study which worker can handle more work. It isn’t enough to determine if a person has the required skills. One of the questions you must answer is whether that person can handle more stress. 2. Conduct job evaluations regularly. Ideally, employees should enjoy their job. But, maybe they are lethargic because there are tasks that they dislike doing. Or they no longer find their work motivating. As a result, they’re no longer excited to get to work. 3. Evaluate your physical workplace. Cramped cubicles, uncomfortable chairs, poor ventilation and lighting have adverse effects. Keep in mind that employees spend at least 8 hours a day at work. 4. Create or Update your Wellness Program. It doesn’t matter if you lead or manage a small organization. These programs aren’t for big groups only. Consider the following benefits: a. Improved employee health habits. b. Reduced stress and anxiety. c. Improved employee performance. d. Lower health care costs. Feature photo: Burnout vector created by redgreystock

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What To Do When Overwhelmed

Happiness at Work, Productivity, Stress Management / My Holland

There’s too much work to do and not enough time. It’s one of the common complaints by an overwhelmed person. Maybe, you find yourself in the same plight often. What does being overwhelmed mean? It describes a situation when something or someone is too much for a person to manage. Swamped, engulfed and flooded are some of the word’s synonyms. By the way, this isn’t about positive things people can be overwhelmed with. Joy, excitement and love are a few examples. I’ll focus more on jobs because many people feel they’re working harder to keep up or remain productive. They’re mentally tired, irritable, stressed and restless at night. Most probably, they’re feeling overwhelmed. How to Deal with Feeling Overwhelmed Don’t fret if you’re one of them. There are ways to deal with it and here are some. Set aside some quiet time. Staying at your office is not a good idea unless you can lock the door to your room. There are too many distractions. Instead, take a short walk or find a relaxing spot outdoors. A 10-minute walk or a quick change in scenery will do wonders for your mind and body. Don’t think about the tasks at hand. Instead, enjoy your surroundings. Take deep breaths. It’s a short respite, but it’s a break that benefits you. Assess your situation. When you begin the day, you already know what is in store. The tasks, meetings, return calls, etc. So, what was the thing that made you feel overwhelmed? Was it a conversation, call, message or e-mail? Finding that moment when you suddenly felt swamped might give you a better appreciation of your situation. For example, an additional task was given to you. After your quiet time, you might realize it isn’t really sizable as you first thought. Review your to-do list. What needs to be done today? Prioritize tasks that need to be accomplished now. Focus on these alone. Stop thinking about jobs that you will work on tomorrow. When you’re finished with your current tasks, work on those that need to be done in the future. Lessen your workload so you’ll never feel overwhelmed. Lastly, avoid procrastination. Doing things right before deadlines is a sure recipe for being overwhelmed. Delegate tasks. You probably heard of this – “If you want a thing done well, do it yourself.” This is not true all the time unless you’re a one-man show. Also, many people are perfectionists who would do everything rather than assign some of them to others. They don’t trust their colleagues to do a good job. Try to let go and give your colleagues a chance. Your time might be spent better on tasks that require your skills. Stay positive. Maybe your boss assigns you more jobs because you’re the most reliable person in your organization. Have you thought about this? Also, you might feel overwhelmed because you have a negative view of things. Try changing your perspective. Think of your situation as something that will make you better. Always look for that silver lining.

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Dealing with Arrogant Bosses

Emotional Intelligence, Happiness at Work / My Holland

It isn’t that hard to recognize arrogant bosses. They expose themselves eventually. They’re narcissists, for one. Their decisions are questionable and often can’t stand scrutiny. This is the reason why they’re arrogant. So here are some ways for you to deal with arrogant bosses. There’s a great chance you’ve met or worked with one of these. But, first, let me define what arrogant bosses are. These people are overconfident and overestimate their skills. They’re not as good as they think they are. Many of them are charismatic but are delusional. Sadly, they can fool many people. Great leaders are confident because they are competent. They have a track record of their achievements and failures, which they learn from. They’re not shy of the latter. But, most importantly, they are humble. Fortunately, it isn’t that hard to recognize arrogant bosses. They expose themselves eventually. They’re narcissists, for one. Their decisions are questionable and often can’t stand scrutiny. This is the reason why they’re arrogant. Consider the fact that they’re trying to compensate for what they lack. Here are some ways to deal with them. >> Never Question them in Public. An arrogant boss may be in a good mood but, it doesn’t mean they’ll be open to contradictory views in public. They always believe they’re right or have better ideas, even when wrong. They have inflated but fragile egos. Arrogant leaders feel threatened when criticized. So, avoid opposing them in front of others. It’s never productive. >> Talk to them in Private. If there’s danger ahead which they can’t see, call their attention in private. Try to enlighten them on why they should change course. Show the facts. If they stick to their decision, find others who can convince them. Organizations and nations have failed because of arrogant leaders. History is full of examples of these leaders that ruin everything. >> Earn their Trust. For instance, you’re stuck in your job and have no other place to go at the moment. Performing well at work is a sure way of getting noticed. If your arrogant boss realizes you make good decisions at work, they may turn to you for feedback. Arrogant leaders care for results too. They just can’t accept they’re not right all the time. It takes practice to give negative feedback. I suggest you read our blog on this. >> Don’t be Fooled by Them. You can be swept by the crowd if you don’t remain steadfast in your beliefs. So, stick to what you think is right. It doesn’t matter if you’re alone. Be cautious and discerning. Leave or move to another department. Avoid being a tool of arrogant leaders. They’ll manipulate and use you if you allow them. You may have encountered these people before and discovered ways to deal with them. Try out the steps above if you haven’t. These worked for others.

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Happiness at Work

The Pygmalion Effect in the Workplace

Don’t Forget Your Staff During Uncertainties

Wellness Statistics You Should be Aware Of

What To Do When Overwhelmed

Dealing with Arrogant Bosses

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