Leadership a - z - E is for Expecations: NaBloPoMo 8

Today's leadership a-z post is for Expectations. When expectations are not clear, or are not met, things can go off the rails.

Common expectations leaders may be discussing with their team may revolve around:
- Start and end time
- Communication patterns (frequency, way - face to face, email)
- Process expectations related to task
- Dealing with questions or conflict

High Performing Teams are known to have articulated their expectations in Team Agreements. Team Agreements explicitly spell out behaviors all team members agree to. As written in other posts, we may have an agreement around Respect. What does Respect mean for this team? What does it look like? If I were to film the team in action, what behaviors would I see around respect?

As you may gather, it's not enough in today's work place for the leader to talk about his or her own expectations. It's a two way streeet. What are the team's expecations of the leader - individually and collectively? Teams will want to consider co-creating their expectations, or collectively creating their expectations.

Coaching Questions:
What expectations - explicit and unspoken - exist within the team? For you as a leader?
What needs to be made explicit?
What are the behaviors underpinning these expectations?

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPT
Potentials Realized

Potentials Realized
Supporting leaders and teams through enhanced skills, better conversations and focused performance
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)


As an author Jennifer Britton is known for her thought leadership in the area of group and team coaching. She is also a former leader and team builder who spent the first 13 years of her career working within the United Nations as well as the international aid sector. From Boardroom to jungle, beach and forest to mountains, Jennifer has worked to develop teams and leaders in more than 18 countries, and virtually many more. She founded Potentials Realized in 2004 and focuses on leadership, teamwork and coaching skills training.

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