We discuss why clearly setting expectations and objectives is critical to engaging teams, boosting employee morale, and enabling continuous improvement.
What does a good day look like for you and your team?
It's a simple question but one many people in our organisations would struggle to answer clearly. The specifics of what it was they were trying to achieve each day are often hard to articulate. This is particularly relevant for the people working on the frontline.
It's interesting that we expect people to give their time, their effort and best endeavours to a cause yet the cause is often ill defined. Setting expectations is so often left by the wayside.
The Power of Setting Expectations and Objectives
I often refer to an example of two groups of cleaners from separate hospitals. One group talked about the fact that their work was of low standing, it was lowly paid, and centred on menial dirty work. They did the basics and that was it. There was no higher purpose or objective.
On the other hand, the second group recognised that their work contributed to a clean, sterile and pleasant environment. They noted that they provided a service that was a contributing factor to helping people's healthcare and treatment journey. The team viewed their work as highly valued and important.
These people were all paid the same – so what was the difference?
Setting Expectations Can Be a Real Motivator
The difference is that one group had a clear sense of what was expected from them. This group understood how and why their job contributed to the hospital's overall goal. The other team did not.
When it was clearly communicated and woven into the daily focus and standards of their work, the second team clearly understood why providing the best environment to deliver healthcare services contributed to positive patient outcomes.
When we can create environments that facilitate the smooth and effective flow of information and communication around a set of clearly defined shared goals then we are in a position to truly engage people.
Understanding the 'Why' Behind Organisational Expectations
Shaping the 'Why' through our daily habits and routines is the key to success. When people can come together to visualise specifically what it is they are setting out to achieve each day then we have a platform for success.
Whether it is one thing or a suite of qualitative and quantitative metrics – a clear description of the expectations of performance and behaviour in the environment provides a meaningful point of reference. Put simply: things start to improve, like magic.
People improve simply because we can now define what is important to us. Human beings like to have a sense of achievement; they take pride and develop status through achieving results. Clear expectations enable critical thinking toward problem-solving and iterative improvement.
Expectation Setting Relies on a Culture of Effective Leadership
This dynamic relies on leadership to support the team and the process. It also requires leadership to be the conduit through which information flows and resources are allocated.
Setting expectations and communicating objectives is best achieved visually and when we can build structures such as tier meetings with daily visual management to enable this we are well placed to have more and more – good days.
Alignment on Objectives Involves the Entire C.I. Framework
To achieve alignment of all our people when it comes to objectives and setting expectations, we must consider how all our varying processes and systems connect. Lean tools like standardised problem solving techniques, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and a Tiered Daily Management process that supports the entire PDCA loop are key to achieving success.
If you're a business in need (or a consultant with clients in need) and you'd like to explore the opportunities that digital-aids to Lean tools provide contact us for a demonstration of the TeamAssurance platform today.
