151 Quick Ideas to Improve Your People Skills

11

Apply the Pygmalion Effect

What? Isn’t that a musical? Well, George Bernard Shaw did base his musical on the concept, but the true credit for this psychological theory actually goes to two scholars and a horse (yes, a horse!) in 1911, and it goes like this: You will get from people what you expect of people.

Assignment

Think of one coworker with whom you have difficulty, or even your child or spouse. In every interaction, treat him exactly as if he has already become the person you wish him to be. Practice this long enough, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the results.

In case that description is as clear as mud, we’ll let Shaw’s character Eliza Doolittle explain it:

“You see, really and truly, apart from the things anyone can pick ...