4 Tips for Managing Employee Expectations
Curating a productive and encouraging work environment can be challenging if you don’t set up the right foundations and communicate them clearly and consistently. For managers, these foundations include managing the expectations for the team and individual employees.
Expectations empower all employees to fulfil their position more effectively while showcasing their importance within the organisation. If employee and employer expectations are misaligned this can negatively affect employee morale and performance.
Below are 4 tips to assist you in managing your employee’s expectations and create the best outcome for all parties.
Make Employees the Central Focus
When setting expectations for employees, take into account their individual strengths and weaknesses. Employees have their own expectations of the job, so considering them is the best way to create a mutually beneficial relationship. It could be that one team member loves completing a particular task, so they are given the opportunity to work and develop this particular project. Establishing them as valued members of the team offers a sense of belonging, which in turn influences their ability to confidently meet expectations.
Create Authentic Accountability
For expectations to be met confidently, employers and their employees must have a realistic understanding of what level of engagement and responsibility their role requires. Creating authentic accountability involves asking specific questions about the project and how the employee is progressing when completing the tasks at hand. From here, expectations can be developed by setting goals that both parties agree on. These questions must allow both parties to be open, fair and honest about the task at hand.
Quarterly Performance Reviews
Having a written and measurable standard for performance allows employees to know where they stand with the job performance, and again invites authentic accountability on their behalf. Quarterly performance reviews are encouraged as they allow SMART goals to be set every 3 months and offer a moment for reflection for both employer and employee. These reviews should foster development and be equally focused on awarding great results and addressing areas of concern.
Remind Employees of Their Expectations
Repetition is the best way to reinforce a goal or mindset. This is especially true for seeing employees reach their potential goals. Ask employees to repeat back their expectations once they have been agreed upon to ensure there is no confusion between the two parties. Prompting them every few weeks to reiterate their expectations helps ensure they are on track and offers a chance for them to voice any unforeseen concerns as they arise.
The team at Optimum Legal are well experienced in all areas of employee management. If you are wanting assistance in implementing any of the above practises, enquire with Optimum Legal today.