The Pygmalion Effect: What Teachers Say Matters

In classrooms across the country, whether in big city schools or small-town districts, there’s a quiet force shaping the futures of students. It’s not in the curriculum. It’s not in the test scores. It’s in the words spoken by the person at the front of the room.

The Pygmalion Effect, named after the myth where a sculptor falls in love with the statue he brings to life, is the idea that higher expectations lead to better performance. In schools, it plays out every day. When teachers believe in a student’s potential and communicate that belief students are far more likely to rise and meet those expectations. But when teachers don’t… the opposite can happen just as easily.

Picture this.

A fifth-grade student struggles with math. One day, while she's hesitating over a long division problem, the teacher leans over and says, “You’ve never been much of a math kid, have you?” It wasn’t meant to be harsh, just an offhand comment. But she hears it loud and clear. From that day on, she stops raising her hand. She avoids math homework. She starts to believe the story that was spoken over her: You’re not good at this.

Now imagine a different moment. A high school freshman turns in a short story that’s rough around the edges but shows real creativity. His English teacher returns it with a note that reads, “You have a gift for storytelling. Keep writing. I can’t wait to see what you do next.” The paper might still have red ink and grammar marks, but that sentence sticks. The young man starts a journal. He signs up for the school newspaper. Years later, he credits that comment for why he became a writer.

Words are seeds. And in the hands of a teacher, those seeds can either bloom or wither.

Sometimes it happens in subtle ways. A teacher who always calls on the same few “smart” students sends a silent message to the rest: I don’t expect much from you. A student who is told, “You’re always causing problems,” might internalize it and become the problem they’re accused of being. But when a teacher takes a moment to say, “I noticed how focused you were today,” or, “You’re asking really thoughtful questions lately,” the message is equally powerful, but this time, it uplifts.

Research has shown that when teachers are told certain students are “gifted” (even when the label is assigned at random), those students tend to outperform their peers. Why? Because the teacher’s expectations change their attention, their encouragement, even their patience. And the students, sensing those higher expectations, step up. That’s the Pygmalion Effect in motion.

The truth is, students are constantly listening, even when they act like they aren’t. They hear the encouragement, the frustration, the sarcasm, the praise. And often, they start to believe what they hear.

This doesn’t mean teachers have to sugarcoat the truth or hand out empty compliments. It means they should be intentional with their words. Instead of saying, “You’re not trying hard enough,” maybe say, “I know you’re capable of more, I’ve seen it in you.” Instead of, “You’re bad at writing,” try, “Let’s work on developing your voice, I think you’ve got something to say.”

Because when a student hears belief in your voice, they start to look for it in themselves.

Teachers are sculptors, in a way—not of clay, but of confidence. And sometimes, a single sentence is all it takes to shape a future.

So the next time you speak to a student, ask yourself: What am I helping them believe about themselves? Because the answer might follow them far longer than you know.

Learn more about the Pygmalion Effect in Chris’ book Exspeaktations.

 Chris Coltran is the author of multiple books including Selling to your Grandmother and the Grandmother Philosophy — the philosophy of “treating people like you would treat your own grandmother.” He has conducted workshops and seminars for over 20,000 participants. Chris’ latest book, Exspeaktations – What you Say is what you Get and the accompanying 21-step  I AM Intention Tracker focuses on mindset and the power that your words and thoughts have over your outcomes. Thoughts become your words, words produce your actions and actions determine your future.  The I AM Intention Tracker is already being used in coaching and training sessions for professionals. Learn more about Chris by visiting www.c2unlimited.com