LEARN
Something Worth SharingPower of Expectations This time of year always gets me thinking quite deeply about relationships - from writing cards to people who we don’t get to see in person very often, to who we will spend our festive celebrations with. One of the biggest learns that I can share about relationships is to do with expectations. Over the years we have consistently found that even before we focus on communication, there is a need to look at the area of expectations. It can be temping to jump to setting ‘clear expectations’ with others, but there is more to it. Here’s a little check-list to help: Self-expectations
The first thing that matters with expectations is to start by admitting to what you expect of yourself and whether this is reasonable or needs adjusting. Be kind to yourself. Expectations of others
Now you can think about what you expect of others. This needs to be conscious and reasonable too. Sharing expectations
Once you have things straight in your mind, you need to share this with others - this is where your communication kicks in. Equally, listen to what others expect of you - it’s often less than you think. Agreeing expectations
A crucial stage in building positive expectations is the need to collectively agree them with those involved - don’t assume. Reviewing and adjusting
Check back in to ensure that expectations have been met - or adjust if needed.
Working through the check-list can help avoid missed-expectations and the potential of fall outs. If you can feel tension in any of your relationships (including the one with yourself) - just consider the role of expectations and if perhaps some assumptions have been made.
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