Employees Only Meet Expectations When They Know What's Expected

Understanding employee work expectations go far beyond those monthly staff meetings catered by Qdoba, participating in passive break room conversations and the countless back and forth emails that solve nothing.

Employees who don’t know what their manager expects of them can’t be engaged or successful in the workplace. And unfortunately, an October report from Gallup of 1,000 employed adults found that only about half of employees surveyed have a clear understanding of what is expected of them at work.

Considering merely 32 percent of employees surveyed in the same study from Gallup agreed that their manager helps them set performance goals, and less than 40 percent said they feel their manager supports them in setting work priorities, it’s time to tell your employees exactly what they need to know about workplace expectations and everything in between.

So how do employers effectively communicate employee expectations?

1. Set clear and realistic goals.

The key to communicating employee expectations is by setting goals with them. Unfortunately, employees do not believe their managers are taking the time to discuss company goals. It’s time to stop hiding behind the computer. Call it old fashioned, but constructive conversations are more effective when done face-to-face.

The first question managers must answer is what are the goals and mission of the organization, and do they align with the goals set for the team and each employee? Employers must never assume that their employees are aware of these goals.

Too often, managers tend to focus only on their own goals and forget to collaborate with others who could provide a new perspective. Pay attention to the needs and requests of all employees. Remember, goals need to be challenging, but still achievable.

2. Tell employees that their jobs matter.

Every employee needs to know how important their role is and how their work contributes to the overall success of the organization. To achieve this, employers must encourage productivity and acknowledge dedication and performance in the workplace.

In fact, a 2015 Employee Development Survey conducted by Saba Software and WorkplaceTrends.com in August found that out of the 700 employed adults surveyed, 60 percent of HR leaders believe their companies provide employees a clear career path, while only 36 percent of employees believe this to be true.

Try focusing on the importance of expectations by letting employees know that their role plays a significant part in the team. This can be as simple as praising an employee for handling a difficult client. Feedback leads to improved performance and, in turn, could result in advancement and boost the overall morale of the workplace.

3. Clear accountability objectives.

How can employees perform if they don’t know what work for which they are being held accountable? Too many blurred lines can create a workplace plagued by inefficiency. Managers have an obligation to tell employees what tasks they are responsible for by using open lines of communication.

Yet, an October survey from Wrike of 1,400 employed adults, 44 percent of employees believe they are receiving unclear task accountability and consider it a significant level of stress at their company. In the same survey, 34 percent of workers are unhappy with their company’s process of managing work.

Solve these problems by encouraging employees to voice any concerns they may have and always remain available for those conversations. Employees should feel comfortable reaching out for help. In return, if managers know an employee is struggling, recognize the problem and address it right away.

4. Provide advancement opportunities.

Employee advancement doesn’t always require a formal promotion. Even if the movement is lateral, employee advancement drives performance.

Questions like the following can help employers identify what they are or are not telling their employees and if employees truly understand what’s expected of them at work: If promotions are available how can I help them get there? Do I acknowledge their hard work? Am I providing employees with clear goals and expectations? Am I adding to their over success?