Processes and Systems: The Solution to Your Stealth Employee Expectations

Processes and Systems: The Solution to Your Stealth Employee Expectations

“Disappointment is unmet expectations. The more significant the expectations, the more significant the disappointment.” -Brene Brown

In her most recent book, Brene Brown discusses the type of expectations found in her work: expectations that are unexamined and unexpressed – stealth expectations – and examined and expressed expectations.

Every single second of the day you are developing expectations. Expectations for yourself, for your family, your partner, and your employees. There’s nothing wrong with having expectations. It’s a healthy way to express what you need and how you envision a task or event going. The dangerous road only begins when you have expectations that are not communicated. 

When expectations aren’t communicated, frustration and anger can set in….which doesn’t progress anything forward. So, let’s start at the jump: Avoiding miscommunications about expectations. 

Here’s our 101 guide to avoid stealth expectations:

1. Use a database/system to assign tasks.

   1. Ambiguity is a key facet of harboring stealth expectations. Utilizing a system that is easy-to-access and digitized levels the playing field. Communicating important tasks via email or passing by someone’s desk in the office can often be the default in a quick moment with a mounting to-do list. Leverage tools within a digitized system to assign tasks and hold accountability.  

2. Provide supportive documents, details, and relevant context.

   1. The importance of systems! All relevant details, contextual support, and pertinent documents are in one convenient, handy location. As you can see, it will become second nature to utilize this incredibly important tool when it comes to staying on task, organized, and meeting expectations.

3. Hold regular meetings: team meetings and 1:1s.

   1. Create a standing meeting with the entire team, and each of your employees. As we mentioned in another series, schedule one day a week – or biweekly – that you check in with every employee. Keep the standing meeting, even if you don’t think you have anything to discuss. It’s meaningful just to have a point of connection.

4. Ask!

   1. I know – why would I be reading this article if I knew how to ask? We understand that it can be terrifying to calmly and confidently ask for what you want and what you expect in a professional setting. You will always regret what you didn’t say, not what you did say. 

As an Ops Agency, we are transformation catalysts and banishers of stealth expectations in organizations through the implementation and management of processes, systems, and people. 

Visit our website to learn more, and book a call.