Managing Expectations
As a leader, it is one of my responsibilities to set goals and expectations for the team. I know individual workers have goals for themselves personally, professionally and spiritually. However, just like a coach of a sporting team, it is my responsibility in the corporate environment to set goals for my staff (the team), often hoping to accomplish far beyond what many of them think may be possible. There are so many expectations and disappointments when goals go unmet. There are usually three areas that we have unmet expectations: the people around us, our current situation and the uncertain future in front of us. We build up expectations in each of these areas on how we think things should go and are often disappointed when they do not go the way we thought. We need to learn to manage our expectations as well as honor God in the process no matter what. Managing expectations is a critical factor in leading successful change. If you can manage your expectations, you may have a more enjoyable experience with the people around you, the situation you are in or the future ahead of you.
“Expectations need to be managed from the beginning, and throughout the process–which requires a major effort of public information and education … Otherwise expectations are unrealistic, and [people] are inevitably disappointed. When disillusion sets in,… people can easily turn against the … agreement they had at first welcomed.”
–Kofi Annan, Secretary General, United Nations, 14 October 2004.
Whoever I am with, wherever I am, regardless of the uncertainties that lie ahead, I will live to honor God.
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