Marshmallow Test and Its Impact on Career and Leadership

Cristianto Rian Tarra
2 min readMar 15, 2023
Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

The marshmallow test is a psychological experiment that aims to measure an individual’s ability to control impulses and delay gratification for a larger reward in the future. Although initially conducted on children, the results of this experiment can have an impact on an individual’s career and leadership.

The ability to control impulses and delay gratification is crucial in both career and leadership. Employees who can delay instant gratification to achieve long-term goals tend to be more successful in their careers. Meanwhile, leaders who prioritize the long-term interests of their company and employees, rather than seeking instant gains, can lead organizations more effectively.

In the context of careers, the results of the marshmallow test suggest that the ability to delay gratification can predict an individual’s academic success and career achievements. For example, in a study conducted in 2012, researchers found that children who successfully delayed eating the marshmallow in the test tended to have better exam results and achieve higher academic performance than their peers who failed to delay gratification.

Moreover, the ability to delay gratification can also impact an individual’s career prospects in the future. A study conducted in 2011 found that students who could delay instant…

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Cristianto Rian Tarra

Tech entrepreneur and IT leader. Focusing on tech solutions and leadership for business growth. Sharing insights on Medium.