How to put expectations in writing

Last week I explained how to better hit your TARGETs in 2018. Today is the 2nd of my 4 secrets to make next year, your best year.

A major problem in the workplace is assumptions are made between coworkers, and between bosses and their direct reports.

The bad habit of making assumptions wastes time, increases conflict, and causes setbacks.

My Expectations exercise is an adaptation of a process developed about 20+ years ago by leadership consultant and author, Jud Boies, a friend of mine.

Written Expectations define how a professional relationship between individuals, individual and team, or between two teams will work.  

Here are three ways writing effective Expectations and its execution is similar to baking a cake:

1)  Recipe:  You need a proven, easy-to-follow recipe to bake a beautiful cake that tastes amazing.  The recipe replaces assumptions and guesses with a step-by-step process that define clear measurements.  Similarly, my Expectations Guide has 15 examples and explains the process of writing and following-through on expectations shared between two or more people.

2)  Mix & Bake: Following a sequence to get things done is often overlooked and steps are skipped in a rush to get to the final product.  This results in poorly baked cake.  Similarly, you must follow the process when writing and following-up on Expectations with others.

3)  Enjoy:  When baking a cake, you set the oven temperature and time to cook it. Otherwise the cake does not rise properly, or is under/overdone. Similarly, set a schedule to agree upon mutual Expectations with your partner/colleague/friend, and stick to it. If you do this consistently, your relationship will "rise" positively as expected.

When writing expectations, you can:

• Describe tangible things you need from the other party to be more productive. This might include properly working equipment, reports, and other items that resolve recurring problems.
• Define how you expect the other party to behave in your work relationship. Your list should be more than just negative behaviors that you expect the other person to correct.  Make certain your Expectations also reinforce the behaviors you appreciate and want the person to continue to demonstrate.

The Bottom Line

Do not assume the other person knows how you want them to behave. Define the behaviors you need from them to perform your best.

There is more to learn. Download my free Expectations guide. You will not only define your goals more effectively, but achieve them faster.

Email us if you need help.

Why accept anything less than the best you can be?

P.S. Next week I will share my 3rd secret to make next year your best year. It is a great reminder that you get what you expect.

P.P.S. We now have only 4 openings left in our Certified LEADER class beginning the week of January 8th! Learn more here.