Contents
Hello! The Hawthorne effect is a phenomenon in which the performance of employees improves due to increased attention to it. This can also happen during experiments, changes in working conditions, and so on. There is a desire to show themselves from the best side, which is why people give all the best to 100%.
History of occurrence
This name originates from an experiment conducted by a team of specialists led by Elton Mayo. Only, unlike other effects, the term did not appear in honor of the name of a psychologist. And thanks to the place of research — the plant «Hawthorn works». It produced telephone equipment, electrical equipment, and various consumer products. It was so large that on its territory there was a railway for the transport of heavy goods. And the employees themselves used bicycles for transportation.
The management of the company in 1924, after a series of unsuccessful attempts to independently understand the situation, turned to Elton with the problem of a decrease in productivity. The worst result was shown by the girls who assembled the relays.
The team first began to study the impact of lighting on the ability to work and work efficiency. Therefore, the employees were divided into two groups — control and experimental. In the last group, the working conditions were changed, making the light a little brighter. Mayo decided to do it in stages to prove for sure that light really does affect performance.
Expectations justified themselves, the girls, unlike those whose illumination remained at the same level, began to make progress, fulfilling the plan. Then they added a little more brightness in the rooms. And something amazing happened. Even those assemblers who had nothing to do with changes in working conditions began to work better.
The research lasted 8 long years. Scientists changed factors that, in their opinion, could “shed light” on what was happening, but were even more puzzled. For example, they increased the number of days off, added more time for breaks. Even the groups made it smaller, now there could be a maximum of 6 workers in one room. Appointed bonuses for a high-quality and responsible approach to business. And then they took and canceled the improvements, expecting a rapid decrease in the girls’ motivation. But it was not there, their productivity grew further, as if nothing had happened.
Revealing the Hawthorne Effect
Stanley Milgram, known to us for conducting an experiment to identify the causes of sadistic tendencies in people who were not previously violent, concluded that Mayo was mistaken in believing that changing various factors influenced efficiency. In his opinion, the girls gave all their best due to the fact that they were constantly under attention.
Just imagine, everyone knows that the plant has serious problems and suddenly the management invites some people who perform actions incomprehensible to the relay assemblers, constantly monitoring their activities. The girls simply decided that the authorities were just trying to deal with those who did not work well. And experts help to find the “weak link”. Why, fearing to lose their place, they tried their best, if only the choice fell not on them. And even if at least 20 people are in one room, at least 6 — it does not matter to them at all.
Also, the observation of work increased the level of significance. The workers felt that they were doing something important, since they were under control. And this stimulates to give all the best, what person does not want to feel like a valuable employee? Everyone who strives to achieve success and realize themselves, right?
Another important role was played by the effect of novelty. This is such a phenomenon in psychology, when recent events or fresh information are more important than what a person previously knew. That is, workers perceived themselves as successful because their performance improved. Completely forgetting that before the plant was under threat of closure because of them. Accordingly, they could not start to work worse, their inner feelings did not correspond to the feelings of losers.
How to use the Hawthorne effect
It is important to arrange the workflow in such a way that employees feel their importance. When they feel that they are doing important work that is highly valued, they will try their best to do more and better than before. By the way, this is another phenomenon that was discovered by Robert Rosenthal.
He argued that expectations tend to come true, since a person will unconsciously perform such actions that will confirm her thoughts. For example, a leader believes that his subordinate professionals can cope with a difficult task — they will strive to match his opinion, doing their job almost perfectly.
And also, have you noticed how efficiency increases when there is information that an inspection will arrive? The body is mobilized and no one knows where the strength comes from to perform those tasks that previously caused boredom. So, it is quite possible to stimulate your staff by announcing an upcoming inspection, for example, by some authorities. Then they, being in a state of expectation, will better perform their duties. And then you have to conform to the image of an effective worker.
Sometimes it’s enough just to declare it that “guests are about to come”. Only do this not often, otherwise it will turn out like in a parable about a shepherd who, for a joke, called for help, and then when the wolves really attacked the herd, no one ran to his cries, because they did not believe him.
Completion
If you are interested in learning more about how to increase personal effectiveness, then you can easily do it by clicking on this link. The article shows the most interesting, simple, but effective methods. And that’s all for today! Good luck and be happy!
The material was prepared by a psychologist, Gestalt therapist, Zhuravina Alina