Are Unmet Expectations Kicking Your Butt?
Be wary of expectations.
When our expectations are met, life is good. When our expectations turn into unmet expectations, it’s a slippery slope.
Unmet expectations lead to disappointment and, usually, anger directed at someone who may have been innocent.
Examples of unmet expectations.
Sales: You have a deal that you think will close and give you a big windfall. You get emotionally high and tell everyone about it. You start making plans. The deal falls apart.
Fitness: You go on a diet and watch everything you eat. You have hunger pains. You’re disciplined. You’re proud of yourself. You step on the scales a week later. You’ve gained a pound.
Employee Raise: You give an employee a big raise they wanted. Your expectation is that they will now be perfect. They are not.
Fancy Restaurant: You expect the experience to be worth the price. Instead, they give you the worst table, mess up your order, and your server is nowhere to be found.
The Solution
Unmet expectations are a part of life. And they are ok.
How do we deal with these better without turning into a skeptic or a Negative Nancy? What is the solution?
We have to consciously manage expectations. We have complete control over our expectations. We create and own them.
Prepare and plan. Don’t be caught off guard when something isn’t up to par.
Get your joy from somewhere else. (Read the Gap and the Gain)
Find the good in it instead of dwelling on the negative. Find the “win”.
Manage expectations—This is tricky because if we’re not careful, we can start hoping for the best and planning for the worst. (But maybe this is ok sometimes?)
Don’t let circumstances determine your joy. (This is a high-level skill.)
Till next time, be a force for good.
- Lance
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