Well what did you expect?
“Well what did you expect?”
Have you ever heard that? Isn’t it interesting that this can be said after someone does something disappointing…or something exciting? The same phrase works either way. You may have experienced it in your own life, and my mother (a licensed Christian counselor) confirms it: People tend to live up–or down–to your expectations.
What level of achievement do you mentally predict for the individuals on your team? If there is someone you image as an under-performer, it is almost impossible for you not to communicate that–however unintentionally. He or she will know what you think and will tend to work to that level.
This is good news! It means you can likely change the performance of your team, simply by changing your own mental attitude toward the individuals on that team. Make a conscious effort to think through each of them one by one and analyze what you really think of their abilities. Now consciously try to give them just a little bit more credit. Chances are, that change in your attitude will be communicated and the people will rise to the new level. So instead of being surprised when they do well you can honestly think, “Well, what did you expect?”
