It is great when expectations and reality go hand in hand. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. We all have expectations – about everything. Each time you or I experience disappointment, it is because reality did not meet our expectations. Your favorite sports team loses, you expected them to win. The wonderful meal you anticipated all afternoon, was only mediocre at best. Disappointment is always experienced when reality does not meet our expectations. When reality meets our expectations, enthusiasm is experienced. Your team wins, or the meal met or surpassed your expectations. You are enthused.
The first step in seeing your employees, volunteers, even family members, develop and thrive is to realize that he/she also has expectations. A new hire’s expectations may be putting food on the table and keeping a roof over her family’s head. Her expectations could be that she desires to be the very best worker in her department. Yet, the bosses expectation is in a totally different realm of thinking. Which is right? Which is wrong? Neither is wrong. Every person has expectations. Aligning those expectations is the key to building a successful team.
As leaders it is imperative on us, if we desire a productive team of workers or volunteers, to realize and understand the possible differing expectations involved. Once we do, then we should develop a plan to bring those expectations together. The expectations of leadership have likely been developed over time, through dreaming, planning, goal setting, and hours of intensive hard work. Leaders should realize team members have not undertaken those same dreaming, planning, and goal setting sessions. Therefore, the team members cannot possibly be at the same expectation level as leadership.
On the team that you are responsible for, what have you done to narrow the gap between the leadership expectations and the expectations of the team members at every level? What steps have you taken to understand the expectations of the team members? Is it possible to bridge the gap between the two without knowing the other end of the gap?
It is likely, that I do not know your organization. Yet there is one thing I can say about your organization. If your organization is like most others, it is filled with normal people. People who have expectations. Can you help them fulfill their expectations and grow into even greater expectations for their self-improvement and your organization’s productiveness?
George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life.