Expectations

Expectations are a dangerous thing – especially if you don’t communicate to other people what they are. Obviously this is true in romantic relationships – we’ve all seen (or maybe been in) the scenario where one partner has an expectation they fail to express and then they are mad and confused when the other partner fails to meet that expectation. Or worse – the expectations become so high that over time one partner expects the other partner to fulfill every need they have. (For many reasons this second scenario has disastrous results as it’s unrealistic to expect one human can meet every changing and dynamic needs of another - no matter how pure and genuine the love – it’s just not realistic.)

Just like it’s not realistic to think one company can meet every one of a person’s professional expectations. Working for a company is a lot like being in a romantic relationship. First you have to define what you want in the partner (company) and then date, (interview) to see if there is a match. When a match is found the courting, (working) begins and all is great –you meet the family (team) experience the honeymoon phase that leads to marriage (promotion).

One partner (company) is usually really clear on communicating expectations and giving feedback on if they are being met (review and compensation). The other partner (employee) is really good at being reactive (high performing) and attentive (dedicated) to the expressed needs.

All is great – one partner (company) is having their needs meet and the other (employee) is being rewarded for their behavior. This is great if the attentive partner (employee) is communicating their expectations (career path, training, promotion timeline) and a healthy relationship dialog is occurring.

However from what I’ve seen in the corporate world most times this looks like toxic relationship and at some point the attentive partner (employee) realizes that they have their own needs and because they were trying to impress the other partner (company) they forgot to communicate their expectations as the relationship grew and evolved and their expectations are no longer being met. And maybe by then the expectations were so huge that there was no way the partner (company) could ever fulfill them because the other (employee) wanted all their previously un-communicated expectations fulfilled whether it was rational or not for the other (company) to fulfill.

Be clear on the expectations you have for your company to meet, ask yourself if they are realistic and if you have clearly stated what they are – if not take the chance – you might be surprised what might happen if you are clear about what you want.