3 Reasons Expectations Determine Success
1. Expectations Improve Communication
Yes, expectations improve communication. If you set the right expectations with the people around you, your communication will dramatically improve. Think about it the other way around too, if you improve your communication, expectations naturally follow.
Why is communication so important? It’s important because that is how we develop relationships with other people. Another reason why communication is important because it involves the stories that we tell ourselves and others.
2. Expectations Determine Our Reputation
How does everyone know you? If your friends, family, and colleagues had to describe you in 3 words, what would they say? Would you expect their responses to be favorable?
First impressions are an example of setting expectations with someone. In business or in your personal life, having a great first impression could take 20 seconds. After that first impression, you can never change the first impression. So make it a good one!
Reputation is very important, but it should not be your primary focus. Focus on helping others and providing solutions for people. In doing this, you will not only set expectations but also develop a reputation for helping others. There are many reasons why helping others improves your mental health. Focus on setting the right expectations when you arrive to help and you will go a long way.
3. Expectations Set You Up For Success
If you have read my blog, you know that I firmly believe that success starts with a mindset. No matter how you define success or find value, expectations will help you get there.
This is so simple, but if you are having a hard time understanding, let me paint a clear picture for you. If you tell your mother that you will be over for dinner at 6pm and show up at 6:30pm, she will be very disappointed. However, if you tell your mother that you will show up for dinner at 6:00pm and then arrive at 5:45pm with flowers and chocolate, her response will be completely different.
In the first scenario, depending on your mother, she could be very worried, upset, or angry. But in the second scenario where you show up early, you set an expectation with her and then exceeded that expectation.
Always Exceed Expectations
If you take one thing away from this post, learn to exceed expectations. Since you have the ability to set most expectations, set ones that you can exceed. Not only will you feel good about mini victories and small wins, but you will also make someone else happy.
It doesn’t have to be about your mother or arriving at her house for dinner. It could be about arriving early for an interview or sending out an agenda for a meeting ahead of time. There is a personal and professional application to each of these concepts so I hope that you took something away from it.
What is one way that you have exceeded someone’s expectations? Please post in the comments below!