Your Expectations Make (or Break) your Team’s Performance

Team leaders seeking high performance are often met with disappointment. We set lofty expectations for our staff, and when they fall short, we're left frustrated.

Ironically, it's these expectations that can stifle better performance.

Have you set your expectations based on your current stature? As a leader, you've probably reached your position due to your experience and outstanding performance. You're already at a high altitude.

If you're expecting your team members to reach the same height, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

Each person can only leap from their current position. Their skills, character, and experience form the foundation for improvement.

Consider this metaphor: As the team leader, you're standing on a platform 10 metres above the ground. You leap another metre, reaching an impressive 11 metres high. A team member, however, stands at 3 metres. They exert immense effort and jump 2 metres higher... but they're still not even halfway to your height.

This is why you must set your expectations for each person based on their current position and experience. Doing so is a win-win. Your team members will feel a sense of accomplishment as they're recognised for consistent improvement, and you'll benefit from their progressively better performance.

You might not have a team of individual superstars, but with this approach of continuous personal improvement across all team members, you will end up with a superstar team. I guarantee it.