A conversation that often comes up with my clients and business friends is around the topic of expectations. How do you know if what you are asking is okay? And what is the difference between having high expectations and being unreasonable?

 

These are really common and important questions to ask and it’s likely that you’ve asked them yourself at some stage in your entrepreneurial journey. So in this episode, I dive into the difference between high and unreasonable expectations and share some examples of what each of these might look like in the workplace. 

 

An area in which I see this uncertainty surrounding expectations is workload. Understanding what is reasonable or unreasonable to ask of someone requires a lot of consideration, communication and an understanding of the individuals involved.  

 

Today I share five areas to consider when determining if your expectations are reasonable or unreasonable. I talk about taking a closer look at workload, capacity, current priorities, personal skillset, the level of desire for the people involved and how this all plays out in the area of expectations.  

 

We all know what it feels like to have too much on our plate and not enough time to perform our responsibilities. For some, being thrown in the deep end to learn new skills is exciting, while others need to feel confident in their skillset and abilities before being ready to take on a new challenge. 

 

This is why it’s absolutely essential to have two-sided conversations to see where people are at, what is important to them, what needs to be done and the process involved in completing the task. 

 

Having a rockstar team isn’t just about hiring well. It’s about leading well and helping your team feel safe to take risks, which is what high-performing team members do. 

 

I hope this episode gives you some great insights into understanding your expectations and how you can shift out of being unreasonable into powerfully asking for what you want and need from your team.