Setting expectations is something we experience early on—as a child we were expected to clean our room before we could go out and play; as students we were expected to complete our homework before we could go to the weekly sporting event; as employees we have goals we create or are created for us and are expected to meet our goals for performance rewards and recognition; as leaders we learn to manage by objectives and set clear goals and measures.
Why Do We Set Expectations?
Each of us needs to have directionality in our lives to help us prioritize our work, make decisions and focus on information most critical to reaching outcomes. Remember—our brains crave certainty! A leader must set and communicate clear expectations to help signal to employees what behaviors and outcomes are needed to achieve results. But how do we manage expectations when things are uncertain?
Developing and monitoring goals is one tool to help with setting expectations. Goals can be long-range — or more immediate—like delivering a “best in class” company in 2024. Setting goals with clear measures and having on-going discussions around the progress of these goals helps set and reinforce employee expectations on how to prioritize work.
Take a moment to reflect on the work you and your team are focused on…
- What problems are your team trying to solve?
- How does your team consider the customer’s needs in prioritizing work?
- Does your team clearly understand the key issues that need attention and how to tackle them effectively?
Being a leader doesn’t mean you have all of the answers; however, leading during uncertainty does mean you help lead your team to think and act differently. Managing expectations helps build this capability.
Leader Activity: Consider discussing these questions at a staff meeting
- What do our customers need in the next 3-6 months? 12-months?
- How do we identify and map those differentiating capabilities to meet the needs and expectations of customers?
- How will we align the right resources to the right areas of work and to solve the right problems?
Review the Ideas Generated
- Determine the priority of the work and how to measure success
- Identify specific actions each employee should focus on to deliver value
- Monitor and reward success and coach your employees if expectations are not being met
Establishing and documenting goals, along with recording evidence of progress, will keep the team focused and aligned. Goal-setting and clear expectations are essential; they form the cornerstone of achieving organizational effectiveness and wellbeing.
SELF-REFLECTION…How are you providing clarity and setting clear expectations? What measures are you implementing to enhance employee engagement and retention amidst uncertainty?
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