Our competitive economy demands organizations be highly productive which in turn, requires employees to meet high expectations. How effectively do you communicate your high expectations? Not communicating expectations can be compared to not explaining the rules of the game…how would anyone know how to win? When employees don’t the “rules of the game” it leads to frustration, rework, conflict and loss of productivity. Here are a few suggestions to create a win-oriented workforce:
— New Employee Orientation: Get new employees off on the right foot with an interactive session to include your company culture, mission and history.
— Handbooks/Policies: These documents outline expectations for all company employees and should be reviewed periodically to ensure they remain in compliance with new laws and company direction.
— Job Descriptions: How does the employee’s position contribute to the overall mission of the organization? The job description can be the basis of a two-way dialog between the manager and employee.
— Operating Procedures: Expectations for specific departments can be communicated through step-by-step operating procedures if uniformity of the process is required.
— Ground Rules: Do your employees work in groups or teams? Why not let them create their own expectations on how they intend to work together effectively?
The other side of Expectations:
— Employee Expectations: Employees have expectations for their employers too, which is sometimes referred to the “psychological contract”. It is just as important to have a work environment in which employees feel they communicate their high expectations for what is important for them to have at work.
It’s a simple truth that most people prefer “to do things right the first time”. Effectively communicating your expectations means there are no surprises and employees receive the satisfaction of feeling they are “winning the game“!