Employees are often disappointed when their expectations aren’t met. I spoke at length about this with a client—a manager leading a team of 15 people—and I was impressed when, after a few sessions, she presented me with the following plan and her thoughts. With her permission, I’m sharing this here, as it’s a wonderful summary of what makes a true leader:
“I feel that, as a leader, it is my responsibility to ensure that my employees achieve their goals and do not experience disappointment. It is important to me that my team remains motivated and optimistic at all times. To that end, I do the following:
1) TIME:
I regularly set aside plenty of time (even when I feel like I don’t have it, I block off time in my calendar) for my team and listen to their ideas and requests. That way, I understand their needs much better. They’ve gotten used to being able to talk openly with me about these things, because I tell them that I can only respond to them effectively if they’re open and honest with me about what’s on their minds.
2) GOALS:
I also try to proactively prevent disappointment by setting realistic goals (which, of course, I have to discuss with my supervisors and align with the company’s goals beforehand) and by ensuring genuine transparency. I’m clear and honest when things aren’t going well or when priorities need to change. That’s the only way everyone on the team can share a common understanding of what’s expected.
3) FAILURES:
If setbacks or failures do occur, I’m the first to address them, offer comfort when needed, and discuss the problem with the team in a solution-oriented way—because I’m convinced that difficulties can only be overcome together! We reflect together on our mistakes and look at where there might still be room for improvement or what benefits we might be able to gain from the mistake.
4) EMPATHY:
When necessary, we support one another with tools, advice when needed, and, above all, genuine empathy. I place great importance on this within the team, and I may need to work on it a bit more if I notice that stress is causing us to stop treating each other with empathy and kindness. For me, respect and interest are the be-all and end-all here.
My key approach here is this: as a leader, I want to focus on open communication, consistency, and support. That’s the only way I can help the team avoid disappointment.
On a personal level, I’ve learned so much through this process and by reflecting on what it means to me to be a good leader. It has helped me build resilience for difficult times, both for myself and for my team. The investment was worth it, and I’m now clear and focused on who I want to be! 🤝 ” My takeaway from this conversation is: By being open to feedback from the team and by embodying compassion (as a corporate value), a leader creates a space where disappointments can be avoided. This allows everyone to learn how to deal with expectations and disappointments in a completely different way—and then to embark on a project (both personally and professionally) feeling empowered!
💪