When we expect certain behaviors of others, we are likely to act in ways that make the expected behavior more likely to occur. — Robert Rosenthal and Elisha Babad

Employees generally rise to our expectations of them.  This is known as the self-fulfilling prophecy or Pygmalion Effect. It’s true because we treat people a certain way based on our expectations of them.  It comes out in our communication and attitude.

When your employee’s performance fails, do you view him as a problem OR as an undeveloped asset with potential?  Often, employees fail because managers create a negative self-fulfilling prophecy.

If you treat people the way they are, they get worse.

Treat people the way they might be and they get better.

Change your perspective and see what happens!