The Leaders Expectation Mindset - the Doberman of Mindsets

A leader's Expectation Mindset refers to their approach to setting, communicating, and maintaining standards, goals, and performance benchmarks for them and their team. This mindset is characterized by the belief that individuals and teams can achieve high levels of performance, and the leader uses these expectations to motivate and guide behaviour. Leaders with an Expectation Mindset focus on creating a clear vision of what is expected in terms of results, behaviour, and work quality, and they hold themselves and their team accountable for meeting those expectations.

Key Characteristics of a Leader's Expectation Mindset:

1. Clear Communication of Standards

Leaders with an Expectation Mindset ensure their expectations are clearly communicated to their team. These expectations cover performance goals, deadlines, quality of work, collaboration, and behaviour. The leader articulates what success looks like, empowering everyone to understand what is required to achieve it.

2. Setting High but Realistic Goals

Leaders with an Expectation Mindset often set high standards and goals that challenge individuals and teams to stretch their capabilities. However, it's crucial that these goals are realistic and achievable. Effective leaders understand this balance, creating a sense of aspiration without causing burnout or frustration.

3. Accountability and Responsibility

Leaders with an Expectation Mindset hold themselves and their team members accountable for meeting expectations. They regularly track progress, provide feedback, and ensure team members are responsible for their contributions. This fosters a culture of accountability and ownership within the organisation.

4. Encouraging Growth and Development

In this mindset, leaders see expectations as a tool to encourage continuous growth and development. They expect team members to improve, take initiative, and expand their skill sets. Leaders with an Expectation Mindset support personal and professional growth by pushing individuals to meet higher standards.

5. Recognition of Effort and Achievement

Leaders with this mindset recognise and reward employees who meet or exceed expectations. Positive reinforcement, such as praise, promotions, or rewards, encourages further effort and maintains high morale. This recognition shows employees that their hard work is valued and appreciated.

6. Balancing Support and Challenge

While setting high expectations, leaders with this mindset also provide the necessary support to help employees succeed. This may include coaching, mentoring, providing resources, or removing obstacles. The balance between challenge and support ensures employees have what they need to rise to the occasion.

7. Emphasis on Results and Outcomes

Leaders with an Expectation Mindset are typically results-oriented. They focus not only on the effort put into tasks but also on the outcomes achieved. They expect their team to meet deadlines, hit performance targets, and contribute to overall success.

8. Fostering a Culture of Excellence

Leaders with this mindset foster a culture of excellence by consistently setting and maintaining high expectations. Team members are motivated to perform at their best, striving to meet or exceed their standards. This culture of excellence can lead to improved performance, innovation, and organisational success.

Benefits of a Leader's Expectation Mindset:

• Motivation: High expectations can motivate team members to push themselves and take pride in their work.
• Accountability: Clear expectations help create a sense of responsibility and accountability.
• Clarity and Focus: Expectations provide direction, ensuring everyone understands what is required to succeed.
• Growth and Development: Challenging goals encourage employees to learn, grow, and develop new skills.
• Enhanced Performance: Performance often improves when expectations are communicated and aligned with goals.

Risks of a Leader's Expectation Mindset:

• Demotivating workforce: An Expectation Mindset can also be called a Critical Mindset. If a leader constantly criticises, they risk seeming overcritical, which demotivates the workforce and can result in workers not giving their best as they assume that whatever they do is not good enough.
• Unrealistic Expectations: If expectations are too high or unrealistic, they can lead to stress, frustration, and burnout.
• Pressure and Anxiety: Constantly pushing for high performance without adequate support may create a pressure-filled environment, negatively affecting morale and well-being.
• Inflexibility: Rigid adherence to expectations may prevent leaders from adapting to changing circumstances or individual needs.

Conclusion:

A leader with an Expectation Mindset sets high, clear, and achievable goals while holding their team accountable for performance. When managed effectively, this mindset can inspire motivation, drive growth, and create a culture of excellence. However, to be effective, it must be balanced with support, flexibility, and realistic goal setting to avoid burnout and ensure that employees feel supported in meeting expectations.