Misaligned Expectations, Everywhere

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. Misaligned Expectations, Everywhere 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 M. Galloway

Shawn M. Galloway is CEO of the global consultancy ProAct Safety. He is a trusted advisor, professional keynote speaker, and author of several bestselling books on safety strategy, culture, leadership, and behavior-based safety. He is a monthly columnist for several magazines and one of the most prolific contributors in the industry, having also authored over 700 podcasts, 200 articles, and 100 videos. Shawn has received awards and recognition for his significant contributions from the American Society of Safety Professionals, National Safety Council's Top 40 Rising Stars and Top Ten Speakers, EHS Today Magazine's 50 People Who Most Influenced EHS, ISHN Magazine's POWER 101 - Leaders of the EHS World and their newest list: 50 Leaders for Today and Tomorrow, Pro-Sapien's list of The Top 11 Health and Safety Influencers and is an Avetta Distinguished Fellow.





Subscribe to our newsletter