How to Set Clear Expectations (Without Being a Jerk)

I've been posting about performance management lately, and clear expectations are foundational to the employee experience.

Here are a few practical ways to build clarity of expectations into your leadership:

Be specific, not general

“Communicate better” means nothing.

“Send a weekly update by Friday at noon outlining progress, risks, and next steps” means everything.

Write it down

If it matters, document it. Emails, shared notes, project briefs are all options.

Check for understanding

Instead of asking, “Does that make sense?” try:

“Can you walk me through how you’ll approach this?”

Revisit expectations regularly

Especially during change, growth, or shifting priorities. Clarity isn’t one-and-done.

Connect expectations to purpose

People buy in faster when they understand why something matters, not just what to do.

When expectations are clear:

☑️ Feedback is faster and less emotional

☑️ Accountability feels supportive, not punitive

☑️ Trust increases (yes, really)

You can’t hold people accountable for standards you never clearly set.

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#performancemanagement #expectations #accountablility #hr