Below is a description of the interview:
Join Ulrike Seminati and her guest speaker, Bianca-Maria Klein, as they discuss the topic “Managing Expectations and Becoming More Charismatic.”
Bianca-Maria is a coach, keynote speaker, and trainer based in Munich. In this episode, she explains how you can manage your expectations through solution-oriented questions and how you can use expectations constructively to lead a life free from pressure and anxiety.
There are many definitions of the term “expectation,” but Bianca-Maria has her own definition. Expectations are nothing more than a mental image of a situation or of how a person should be, followed by an assumption about what will happen. According to Bianca-Maria, the first step in expectation management is to understand what expectations are. She refers to this as a “happiness killer,” since it leads to disappointment, sadness, anger, or frustration when expectations aren’t met. The next step is to understand the direction of the expectation, and that’s the hardest part. There are three directions: expectations of oneself, expectations of others, and others’ expectations of oneself. This becomes a burden, so it’s necessary to examine and question expectations in order to clarify them. In theory, this is simple; in practice, however, it is not. Communication for Clarity: Expectations are based on fears, and vice versa. For this reason, misunderstandings and conflicts often arise when these expectations aren’t met. This happens both in typical work environments and in personal life.
Bianca-Maria emphasizes the importance of communication. There’s no harm in asking a question, but how you ask it is another crucial aspect. Your tone of voice determines the other person’s reaction: Will they respond defensively or attentively? Bianca-Maria reminds us to be careful about how we ask questions and to do so in a nonjudgmental tone to ensure an authentic response. The goal of communication is to clarify expectations, not to create further misunderstandings.
About Bianca-Maria Klein: Bianca-Maria Klein is a coach, speaker, trainer, and a cheerful half-Italian from northern Germany who has traveled extensively, gone on a deep inner journey, and come home. Her passion is to accompany people through their process of change and to witness how they find answers to inner questions that only come to light through conversation.
Bianca-Maria has over 20 years of professional experience in the management of international companies. She is DVCT-certified as a systemic coach, change manager, trainer, and business facilitator, and is ICF-certified in solution-focused brief coaching.