July 18 2022
By: Shawn M. Galloway
Projects do not fail in the end, they fail in the beginning, usually because expectations were not aligned. I find this perspective extends in all possible direction - personal relationships as well as professional ones. In psychology, it is taught that all disappointment is based on a set level of expectations. We humans do a better job aligning others to our results expectations than we do at aligning others to our behavioral expectations. 
Moreover, many companies do a consistently poor job at performance evaluations, annual or otherwise.
Before being disappointed at results or any outcomes in a relationship with others, first ask yourself, how well aligned were the performance expectations? Was it clear not just for results, but what behaviors were expected as well? Before you hold others accountable for their results, first hold yourself accountable for being a great communicator of your expectations.
"The enemy of accountability is ambiguity." — Patrick Lencioni, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
"Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to the result." — Bob Proctor
"Accountability is making sure people are doing what is necessary to produce the results, before checking to see how everything turned out." — Shawn Galloway
Shawn Galloway, CEO of ProAct Safety, is an expert in safety excellence. With almost thirty years of experience, he is a highly sought-after advisor, keynote speaker, and expert witness. Shawn has become a trusted partner to leading organizations across various industries worldwide. He ranks in the top 1% of the most prolific writers in his field, having authored over 500 articles and several bestselling books. He also launched the world's first safety podcast, Safety Culture Excellence©. As a recognized authority in safety, Shawn has received awards such as being named among the Top 50 People Who Most Influence EHS and a Top 10 Speaker, among others.
He is a regular guest on Bloomberg, Fox News, The Daily Mail, Dubai One, U.S. News & World Report, Sirius Business Radio, Wharton Business Daily, and leading safety magazines and podcasts. Shawn also serves as a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, Forbes Business Council, and Fast Company Executive Board, enabling his influence to shape safety thinking and strategy at the executive level.
