High Expectations

High expectations are a gift we give to the important people in our life.

Spring has arrived!? The trees are blooming, and the daffodils and tulips are bringing their color to the landscape.? But of greater significance, the Bowmansville Fire Company’s annual fundraiser, a Chicken Pie Sale was held this past Saturday, and I was in a chicken pie mood.

This dish is considered a true comfort food.? Cooked in a pie shell with a pastry topping, its aroma can fill the house, but we were getting take-out so the aroma would fill the car.? The sale began at 1:00 PM, so after picking-up my sister-in-law we made the quick drive to the fire company, arriving in plenty of time.? It was a drive-through, so we gave the volunteer our order for three chicken pies; one for Shirlee and me, one for my sister-in-law and another she was going to give to a neighbor.? We pulled around for pick-up where another volunteer brought the box to our car.? I was excited; I could already taste my dinner, and then I looked in the box.? They looked like miniature versions of a chicken pie; not at all what I was expecting.? The anticipation of leftovers later in the week disappeared, and the excitement for dinner faded.? Lesson learned?? High expectations are better suited to people and not take-out chicken pie.

Expectations are a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future, or a belief that someone will or should achieve something.? Likewise, expectations are powerful, be they self-set, or established by someone else.? The power and value of high expectations has been the subject of numerous research studies.? The findings of Robert Rosenthal’s classic 1965 study,?Pygmalion in the Classroom, have proven that the expectation of a leader has a direct impact on the performance of the person they are leading. Or as Rosenthal describes it, “What one person expects of another can come to serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy.”? In other words, we perform in a manner consistent with our own expectations.???

When we think of a good leader the qualities of humility, passion, empathy, determination and integrity often come to mind.? While those qualities are essential, an often overlooked trait is the importance of having and setting high expectations:?

1. High expectations communicate potential in others.? When we set the bar high, when we tell people,?“I expect much from you because I believe in you.”, we? communicate a powerful aspirational message.?
2. High expectations facilitate performance:? Our expectations for levels of performance are often drawn from the verbal and nonverbal messages we receive from those who are important to us.? When we believe others have high expectations for us, we tend to perform in a manner consistent with those and our own expectations.
3. High expectations communicate that we care:? Setting high expectations sends a message that we care about others and want to see them flourish.? It reinforces that we believe in them and we will be by their side.
4. High expectations lead to resilience and growth:? When we have high expectations for others, coupled with skill development and coaching, people feel safe taking healthy risks.? Growth comes through stepping outside your comfort zone, which always includes a risk of failure.?
5. High expectations paint a picture of what can be:? Our expectations for others can paint a picture of the future we believe they are capable of attaining.??

Think about the people in your life who contributed to where you are today.? There were a multitude that may have included parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers, coaches, mentors and others.? What did they have in common?? They believed in you and they communicated it through their words and actions.? We each have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.? What more powerful way to show that you care than to say,?I believe in you, I have high expectations for you, and I am always here for you!

Embrace High Expectations

Embrace the Challenge