𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

As a coach, I work with leaders that are frustrated with their employees not meeting an expectation. As I ask questions and probe more, I learn many times that the expectation is one in the leader’s mind but not shared with the employee, or maybe they have some, but they are not clear for the employee to fully understand. As a leader, one of your most important jobs is setting expectations with your employees. This can be a difficult task, as you need to find the balance between setting the bar too high and causing frustration or setting it too low, resulting in a lack of productivity. Here are a few tips to help you set expectations with your employees in a way that will result in a productive, positive work environment.

𝘽𝙚 𝘾𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙚

When you are communicating expectations to your employees, it is essential that you are clear and concise. This means being specific about what you expect and providing examples if necessary. Vague statements such as "I need you to be more productive" or "I need you to do better work" are not helpful and will only frustrate your employees. Instead, try to be as specific as possible. For example, "I need you to complete X task by X date" or "on this document, I expect you to gather all the data before sending it up for review.” By being clear about what you expect, you will give your employees the direction they need to be successful and learn how to approach similar situations in the future.

𝘽𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚

When setting expectations, it is also essential to be reasonable. This means taking into account factors such as the workload of your employees, their skill level, and the available resources. If you set unrealistic expectations, you will only end up disappointed, and your employees will become frustrated. It is important to remember that everyone has their limits, so try not to push yourself or your employees too far.

𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚!

Finally, communicating regularly with your employees is another essential tip for setting expectations. This means checking in on their progress and offering feedback and support along the way. If an employee struggles to meet your expectations, this provides an opportunity for you to offer help or guidance. Likewise, if an employee is excelling, this gives you a chance to praise their efforts and let them know that they are on the right track. Regular communication on your expectations will help ensure everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal.

Clear expectations and continuous communication will help your employees work in the desired direction and become more effective. Once everyone is working on these, you may find your frustrations are reduced and your effectiveness increases.

Written by Steven Schultze