24 Mar 09 @ 12:42 pm
Communicating Expectations Effectively
The last six months have resulted in more employees in transition than ever before. As people find themselves working for a new employer or in a different role within their organization, managers must figure out how to on-board new team members as quickly as possible and effective superior-subordinate communication plays a large role.
You can increase how quickly new team members adjust to your management style by considering the following when setting expectations:
Inform employees of your expectations by sharing them in a way that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Doing this puts your employees in a place where they can succeed and not in the position of becoming a mind reader. Communicating expectations takes time up front, but it saves everyone time in the end.
Evaluate the credibility of your expectations by inquiring about your employee’s bandwidth. Ask if they are working on any other projects right now and how much time those projects are consuming. If they do not have the availability you need you will have to reset your expectations for their involvement.
Clarify that the message sent is the message received. Have a conversation with your employee about the next steps they plan to take in the projects you have assigned. Their response will help you to gauge how well they understand your expectations and allows you to address misunderstandings, if any, before anyone heads in the wrong direction.
posted in category(s): Miscellaneous
