The best feedback a leader can receive from a team member……”I have always known what is expected of me, and the organization always takes care of me when I exceed expectations”

Long-term success relies on setting the right expectations with those we lead and then having timely, adequate, and consistent follow-up.  This concept is similar to our focus on setting and living up to customer expectations.   Just like customers, our team members want to be successful and they look to us to provide that opportunity.  We must count on them to grow and be successful in their current and future roles in order to ensure that customers are being taken care of and that we continue to grow and focus on innovating.   So what is the secret sauce?  

• Setting Expectations – The most successful people always want to know how they are doing, so lets make sure they have a measuring stick:  The best people have a burning need to know what success looks like.  In fact – they will end up leaving the organization if that need is not met.  We need to help paint that picture by helping with the creation of goals and having the systems in place to track progress.
• Team members need to be held accountable based on those expectations:  Once the path to success is laid out, it should be considered the road map and what we expect them to do.   Which means that we should routinely inspect and mentor them. 
• Swift and consistent discipline/reward are required:  If a team member loses their way or even shows the smallest sign that they may be off track, we are just as responsible for their ultimate failure if we do not confront them right away.  Equally important is coming through with rewards, which can be in the form of recognition, money, and/or new opportunities.

Can you imagine an organization where no one knows what is expected, and there is no consistency to discipline/reward?   Just sounds like a really messy and dysfunctional house to me……..