Expectations

If you ever find yourself challenged in a relationship, you can always know it involves expectations. It is just as true in your personal life as it is in business. Someone is expecting something from the relationship they are not getting. Disappointment sets in which can quickly turn into disillusionment and descend further into depression. The truth is expectations represent a powerful link to effective communication and relationship development.

It all begins with recognition. Recognize the people in your life as the place to begin. What are their expectations of you? What are their expectations of the relationship? You know yours. It is their expectations you don't know unless you ask them. Even then it can't be one time done. Expectations shift and change without any notice at all. They are fluid be their very nature. You have to keep them clarified.

Expectations cannot be assumed. You may have a job description in place. You may think you have some kind of positional understanding in a relationship. Expectations cannot be captured through positional designation. Nor are they clarified through the most complete job description. What is to be done or from what position it is to be done are both easy to identify and communicate. Expectations, on the otherhand, have to do with how you, or they, want things done. What are the preferences? Agreement has to be reached and then reached again and then reached again. Expectations tend to morph.

One more thing, expectations don't have to make sense. They don't. A person might have expectations of you in a job that are totally unreasonable. They might not even be possible. You cannot do everything despite what some might think. Expectations in a relationship can be the same. If another person expects you to secure them in life that is a car wreck waiting to happen. It is not healthy for you or for them to let that lurk between you. Expectations have to be discussed, clarified, and agreement must ultimately be reached.

Expectations make the powerful difference in any relationship. Customers, marriages, managers, coaches, doctors, and children require your attention with regard to keeping them clarified. If you don't do it, who will? Them? Come on. Do well, my friends. Lead on.