Setting Expectations |Leila’s House of Corrections

How often have you felt that an employee isn t meeting your expectations? And then you look in the mirror and realize, Wow, you haven t actually told her what those expectations are? Well, it s never too late, so  Come on managers, it s time to set expectations. 

It s really easy to assume that your team members will know exactly what to do and how.  And most managers tend to tread lightly when setting expectations because they don t want to be accused of micro managing.

Setting expectations goes hand in hand with setting goals. So, to ensure your team knows what to do and how to do it, here are some steps:

Step 1: Write it down.

Preparation is key. Decide yourself what the expectations are and write them down. Then you have a document to share with the employee and refer back to for metrics and follow-up discussions.

Step 2: List all of your expectations.

We sometimes think, Do I have to actually say when to come to work, how to request vacation, and what I want in terms of being prepared for meetings? Yes, you do! These details appear to be nitty-gritty ones yet are absolutely valid to share with an employee, especially when she is new or struggling.  Spell it out!

Step 3: Give examples.

If you want a task to be completed a certain way or if you want a meeting to accomplish specific goals, then you need to explain this to the employee. Give her data. Give her examples of how you want work accomplished. And make the distinction between whether your examples are the one and only way to do it or one recommended way.

Step 4: Give feedback.

If you take the time to set expectations and you fail to follow up and give feedback, your team members will begin to ignore your expectations. You need to hold them accountable. Check in and give feedback both positive and constructive.  And make sure the feedback is timely very few of us remember what we did last month.

Remember, if you fail to tell someone how to approach a task, you set yourself up for disappointment.

And then you, as a manager, will struggle to demonstrate the value of your team and their work. When you set expectations for employees, you also set one for yourself: that you can be a great manager.