The Hidden Power of Expectations: How the Nocebo Effect Impacts Career Changes
When heading into significant professional transitions, we know mindset is important. But I’ve recently come across some scientific evidence that underscores how much our mindset shapes our reality.
You’re probably familiar with the placebo effect—where positive expectations create beneficial outcomes. But did you know that the placebo effect has an equally powerful evil twin? It’s called the nocebo effect.
The nocebo effect occurs when negative expectations lead to negative experiences, even without any active cause.
In studies it shows up like this: A trainer tells you that the next set of exercises is going to be really hard and you underperform relative to your physical abilities. A teacher tells you the test is a doozy and you score lower than you would otherwise. In some studies the effects are DOUBLE that of the placebo effect!
As professionals navigating change, this psychological phenomenon can silently undermine our confidence and performance. It's like having a pessimistic backseat driver in your brain saying, "You're probably going to miss that exit" right before - low and behold - you actually do.
For the Executive Making a Professional Leap
Consider how the nocebo effect manifests during executive transitions: You hear that your collaborative leadership style "won't work at the senior level," and suddenly you find yourself second-guessing approaches that have always generated results. When a peer mentions the political complexity at the higher level, routine conversations start feeling like minefields. After hearing about work-life challenges in the new role, you begin attributing every family dinner missed to your career choice rather than temporary circumstances. These are nocebo effects undermining your natural capabilities.
For the Corporate Professional Becoming an Entrepreneur
Similarly, when transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship: You hear that "80% of new businesses fail in the first year," and suddenly every challenge feels like a harbinger of inevitable collapse. A former colleague mentions they struggled with client acquisition when they went solo, and now you find yourself hesitating to make those crucial first calls, anticipating rejection before you've even begun. When another entrepreneur mentions their work-life balance suffered, you start noticing every extra hour you put in, creating a narrative of unsustainability.
What's fascinating is how widespread this phenomenon is across both paths. Executives hear they must "completely reinvent" their leadership approach, while entrepreneurs are told their corporate experience "won't translate"—both classic nocebo effects that create unnecessary self-doubt about valuable skills already developed.
The good news? Understanding this effect gives you a powerful advantage. By recognizing when nocebo influences might be at play, you can consciously redirect your expectations.
Start by cultivating awareness of your thought patterns. Are your concerns based on evidence, or have they been suggested by others' experiences? Remember that your journey is uniquely yours. What challenged someone else might be where you naturally excel.
Surround yourself with voices that foster growth rather than limitation. Seek out success stories from those who've navigated similar transitions. Their paths demonstrate what's possible rather than what's problematic.
Most importantly, honor your authentic leadership style. The qualities that brought you to this point remain your strengths, even in new contexts. Often, what makes you different is precisely what will make you effective. Your experience with corporate processes and planning might be exactly what makes your startup more sustainable than others. Your collaborative approach might be the fresh air your executive team desperately needs.
As you move forward, remember: your expectations have power. Choose to expect growth, learning, and eventual mastery—and watch as your reality begins to align with this more empowering vision.
If we're going to create self-fulfilling prophecies (and we do, whether we intend to or not), they might as well be the kind that have us popping champagne rather than antacids.