The Key to Employee Success

Undefined or unclear expectations are the most common reason employees fail to succeed. Leaders often assume that because an employee has the skills required for the job, they understand the job expectations. This is a mistake.
Setting clear expectations is one of the most important things leaders can do to help employees succeed. Also, let them know what success looks like. If a leader doesn’t have this experience, they may not know how to do it or aren’t doing it well. These are some tips for leaders:

Half of the employees are aware of what they should do at work. ~Gallup

To understand, you must first understand.

Most likely, your expectations for employees will be different from the ones you have for them. It is difficult to set clear expectations for your employees if you don’t know what your leadership expects. Start by understanding what your leaders expect of you.

It’s not just about the what.

It’s not enough to say what you expect from your employees; they also want to know why. It may seem confusing at first glance. Employees can see the big picture when they understand the effect, efficiency, and outcome. Understanding the why helps employees gain buy-in and ownership, which, in return, increases engagement and commitment.

Goals, objectives, behaviors.

Expectations can be multifaceted and cover different aspects of the job. They include metrics, tasks, and how they are completed. The goal you want to achieve is the end result. Next, determine your expectations about how to get there. Customer satisfaction scores will dictate the behavior that is required to achieve the desired result. Understanding the relationship between elements is essential for employees to be able to meet their expectations.

Take note of the gaps.

You won’t be able to identify the gaps if you work with a new employee. It is essential to be aware of potential opportunities and keep your expectations in check after setting expectations. You may already be aware of these opportunities if you have existing employees or teams. You can use individual strengths to fill the gaps. Sometimes, the gap is due to an employee not having seen or done something before. Other times, it’s because of bad habits or behavior.

Communicate and reiterate.

Communication does not work for everyone. Even though you might be more comfortable communicating via email than others, it does not necessarily mean that this is the best way to communicate with all employees. Multi-faceted communication is critical. This includes email, staff meetings, and one-on-one time with employees.

Your employees will be more understanding and committed. Recognize what they have written or said.

You should follow up. To avoid confusion and keep track of everyone, write down the information if you’re taking the staff meeting or one-on-one approach. As a way of keeping essential things at the forefront, it is also important to remind employees when necessary.

Get feedback.

It shouldn’t surprise you if employees are underperforming or not meeting their expectations. Outstanding performance is the same. Employees should not wonder if their job is doing a great job. It is essential to receive balanced feedback from employees.

You don’t have to be a leader to get feedback.

Asking questions like:

What do you think?
What do you think?
Are you open to suggestions or ideas?
What can I do?
Do you think there is anything I could do differently?
They must be held accountable.
Accountability is a critical component of setting expectations. Leaders need to hold their employees accountable. Your expectations must be met by your employees. They need to understand what happens if they don’t meet them. This will make it challenging to achieve all your other goals.

It will be easier if you’re able to anticipate what you want and provide regular feedback. Remember, no surprises.

Leadership is all about being able to communicate clearly. It is essential to establish strong relationships with employees. This will help avoid problems later.