In the excellent book The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea, The Chairman, a very wise and successful entrepreneur and business leader is coaching Joe, a new student and mentee. The Chairman leans forward toward Joe, and The Chairman’s voice gets softer for greater emphasis.
With all the emphasis he can muster, The Chairman looks deep into the eyes of Joe and says, “In life, you often don’t get what you want. But, here’s what you do get — you get what you expect.”
“Or, put another way: What you focus on is what you get. Go looking for trouble and that’s what you’ll find. Go looking for conflict, and you’ll find it. Go looking for people to take advantage of you, and they generally will. Go looking for the best in people, and you’ll be amazed at how much talent, ingenuity, empathy and good will you’ll find.”
“Ultimately, the world treats you more or less the way you expect to be treated.”
If you want to successfully recruit better leaders, spend more time understanding the personal and professional expectations of those leaders.
If you want to better identify high-potential leaders, spend more time understanding the expectations of those you are considering.
If you want to develop more effective leaders, spend more time influencing and developing their expectations.
If you want to retain the most effective leaders, spend more time coaching and helping your leaders meet and exceed expectations.
Think about it! Our expectations drive virtually everything we do… or don’t do. And so it is with everyone with whom we work and live.
Change your expectations and you will change the results of your leadership. Change the expectations of those you lead and you will change the results and impact of their leadership.
Personal and professional expectations are far more critical than most people, and most leaders understand.
Want to take your leadership, and the leadership of those you lead to the next level? Focus on personal and professional expectations!
