5 Ways to Set Achievable Goals

Expectations in the workplace aren’t about micromanaging; it’s about keeping employees and management aligned towards the common goal.

When employee expectations aren’t clearly communicated or understood, businesses can experience a slowdown due to disengagement that’s entirely avoidable. In fact, a study has shown the US is experiencing a decline in employee engagement for the first time in its history, with 17% of workers displaying signs of being actively disengaged.

It’s often not the employee’s failure; it’s a management issue caused by either poor communication or an unfocused approach to corporate goals. But the good news is that setting employee expectations clearly and consistently can reverse this trend.

What are employee expectations?

Employee expectations cover many aspects of their employment, from timeliness to promotion opportunities. The employee’s experience is guided by the expectations set and communicated by company leaders, developing a core set of beliefs each individual can follow.

Some behaviors that could be set out through employee expectations include:

• Maintaining a clean and tidy appearance
• Treating fellow employees with respect and empathy
• Following the code of conduct and other company policies
• Arriving to work on time and performing their duties to an acceptable standard
• Representing the company in a positive light both inside and outside the office, in the real world and online

Expectations can be collected into an employee handbook, which serves as a guide for new employees. Employees have something to refer to when they need clarification on company policy and procedures.

Employee expectations from their workplace

Expectations at work are a two-way street. Just as the boss has expectations of their employees, the employees have their own hopes and needs from the company. This can include things like:

1. A safe place to work
2. Support from management
3. Opportunities for promotion and growth
4. A fair balance between work and their personal lives

In fact, a Glassdoor study revealed that 87% of employees expected their employer to support them in balancing their lives between work and personal commitments.

5 ways to set employee expectations

Everyone needs to be on the same page for a team to thrive in their roles. Leaders play the most important role in making this happen, and here’s seven ways to do just that:

Make expectations very clear

Employee expectations must be clearly communicated to staff. Otherwise, they can’t be expected to know. Instead of hiding expectations between random acronyms and buzzwords, lay them out in plain language.

Document everything

Create proper documentation for employees to use as a reference. Start by adding employee expectations to an employee handbook given out during onboarding. New staff members can familiarize themselves with company culture as part of their early training.

Create a shared folder on the company’s network or cloud drive alongside a handbook. Doing so gives employees easy access to essential documents like guidelines, protocols, and instant updates to company policy.

Offer regular feedback to employees

Schedule weekly feedback sessions with employees. Managers have an opportunity to reinforce employee expectations and field any questions they may have.

A study by Officevibe found that 43% of highly engaged staff received feedback every week. Feedback can be delivered in multiple ways, including the classic 1-on-1 meeting. Managers can host team meetings, brainstorming meetings, or introductory meetings for new staff.

Be an example for employees

As a leader in business, you should embody the expectations set. Managers are often viewed as role models by employees.

If the leadership at the company can lead with their actions and not just their words, employees will be more receptive. For example, 75% of people have experienced burnout at work. If a team sees their manager regularly working late hours and neglecting self-care, they may feel pressured to do the same.

Create a feedback loop

A feedback loop ensures that feedback is always a two-way street. Employees should feel empowered enough to voice any concerns they may have. By including a feedback loop, employees feel valued and heard at work. This can lead to deeper levels of engagement and commitment from your team.

When employees feel their voice matters at work, they’re more likely to take ownership of their work and contribute proactively to company growth.

Managing employee expectations for success

Engaged employees are a testament to the power of well-managed expectations. Research shows that engaged employees put 57% more effort into their tasks than those who feel disengaged at work.

If expectations are poorly managed or unreasonable in nature, it can significantly affect team stress levels. Stress at work is a significant concern, as 41% of stressed employees believe the added emotional strain negatively affects their performance.

Taking a proactive approach to communicating and managing employee expectations helps ensure every team member has some ownership over the company’s mission and objectives.

Sources:

• gallup.com/workplace/391922/employee-engagement-slump-continues.aspx
• prnewswire.com/news-releases/two-thirds-of-american-workers-would-be-better-employees-if-they-got-more-sleep-according-to-glassdoor-survey-300542688.html
• officevibe.com/blog/infographic-employee-feedback
• flexjobs.com/blog/post/flexjobs-mha-mental-health-workplace-pandemic/
• engageforsuccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/pwc-employee-engagement.pdf
• coloniallife.com/about/newsroom/2019/march/stressed-workers-costing-employers-billions