Discover why believing in others is a leadership superpower—and how the science of the Pygmalion Effect proves it fuels growth and transformation.
Am I the only one who gets completely and utterly sucked into those music show recaps?
AGT, The Voice, BGT—you name it.
Recently, it hit me why I love them so much.
The audience isn’t just watching.
They’re rooting.
You can feel the collective hope.
They are sitting on the edge of their seats, hoping and literally manifesting greatness from the person on stage.
Complete strangers becoming the biggest cheerleaders for the performer. It’s electric.
I can feel it from the couch or my bed. (A big dose of joy before sleep.)
We Get to Do the Same
Every day, we have the opportunity to assume greatness in the people around us.
Not because we know it’s there or they’ve proven it yet, but because we believe they can and want that for them.
The Science Behind It: Why Belief Fuels Growth
And here’s what’s fascinating: science backs this up.
There’s something called the Pygmalion Effect—a well-documented psychological phenomenon that shows people tend to rise to the level of the expectations placed on them.
Teachers who expect more from students? Those students do better.
Leaders who believe in their teams? Their people thrive.
Our belief actually helps unlock potential.
Your assumption of greatness can literally shape someone’s outcome, including yours.
A Leadership Superpower
When we show up and lead with that kind of energy – assuming potential, collaboration, and connection instead of doubt, people rise.
They grow into it. They even surprise us.
I’ve seen this with my own eyes.
Choosing to see people as bigger than even you imagine? That’s a leadership superpower. And, it comes in super handy when things get messy.
A Simple Shift You Can Make Today
👉🏻 Assume good intent. (Thank you, Jacki Kelley!)
👉🏻👉🏻 Be open and curious.
👉🏻👉🏻👉🏻 Sit on the edge of your seat for someone else’s greatness.
When you show up like that, you don’t just witness transformation, you help make it happen.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you are ready to expand and take your next leadership leap, let’s connect!
And, if you’re finding it hard to see greatness in others, you may be navigating your own messy middle – wrestling with doubt, overwhelm, or uncertainty that makes it hard to see your own greatness.
That’s not a weakness. It’s a signal.
- Take the Messy Middle Archetype Assessment to discover where you are in your journey.
- Get insight into what’s holding you back and where you are ready to rise.
- Let’s connect. I’d love to support you as you move from surviving to thriving.
Because the moment you remember your own greatness, it becomes so much easier to see it in others, too.
Remember: You are the Most Worthwhile Project You Will Ever Work On!
