You Get What You Expect
So your team member or volunteer didn’t come through. Here might be why?
You didn’t set Clear Expectations.
Often times most of your leaders, team members or volunteers fall short for you simply because they didn’t know what was expected of them.
They may not have:
- Known the deadline for a certain task or responsibility.
- Didn’t know exactly how you wanted something done.
- Or that is was their responsibility at all.
Stop the frustration you may have today. Give them a list of your expectations with deadlines especially if they have weekly duties. The clearer you are the better they will understand your expectations and lower your frustration.
As you give them your expectations make sure you are:
- SPECIFIC – The clearer you are the less likely you will have disagreements on what was expected. Be specific when telling them, say, “I expect you to create the lighting set for four songs this week.”
- MEASURABLE - Make sure that what you are specific can also be measured. You can be specific but how will you know if it has been accomplished. You might say, “I expect you to create the lighting set for the weekend.” or you could say, ” I expect the lighting set to be created by Thursday so it can be used in the rehearsal that evening.”
- GIVING DEADLINES – Always put a deadline if possible. Deadlines help your team to prioritize their work. “I expect you to have your lighting set done by Tuesday at 5pm so that on Wednesday the Worship Director can review and give you any changes that need to be made on Thursday by 5pm so the set can be used in Thursday’s rehearsal.”
You want your team to succeed. So help them be with CLEAR EXPECTATIONS.
Have you ever been unclear and seen things end up falling through the cracks leaving you frustrated?
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This also works “between the ears” for when we don’t meet our own expectations!
Great post, Jason!