A Concept to Challenge Your Status Quo
The CEO’s Secret Weapon: Expectation Dialogues That Redefine Winning
“Culture is simply an agreement about how we treat each other.” — Paraphrased from Edgar Schein, MIT Sloan
Imagine your organization as a championship rowing team. Every rower is world-class, but unless they pull in sync—with clear calls and mutual understanding—raw talent alone won’t win the race. In business, the oars are our expectations. Without a shared rhythm, we drift, duplicate efforts, and miss the finish line.
I once watched a high-performing team unravel—not from lack of skill, but from silent assumptions. One exec craved blunt feedback; another preferred private, delicate feedback. Deadlines slipped, trust eroded, and talent walked out the door. The fix? A candid expectations dialogue that spelled out how each person wins, how they lose, and how they want to hear the hard truths. The turnaround was immediate and lasting.
Culture as an Agreement: The Expectations Dialogue
Culture isn’t a poster on the wall. It’s a living contract—an ongoing, explicit agreement about how we interact, challenge, and support each other. The most powerful tool for shaping this contract? The expectations dialogue.
What does this look like in practice?
- How we win together: Define what success looks like for both sides.
- How we lose together: Clarify what undermines trust or performance.
- Feedback preferences: Ask, “How do you want to receive constructive criticism?”
- Role clarity: Spell out expected results—no ambiguity, no guessing.
- Communication systems: Agree on how and when you’ll check in to maintain confidence and momentum.
This isn’t a one-time conversation; it’s a living system. Like a pro sports team reviewing game tape, return to the agreement regularly. Adjust as the game changes.
Why does this work?
- Clarity is kindness: Clear expectations reduce anxiety and empower autonomy.
- Accountability grows: People own their outcomes when the rules are explicit.
- Conflict drops: Misunderstandings shrink as transparency grows.
- Engagement soars: Employees feel seen, heard, and valued—fueling performance.
Challenge for the Week:
Schedule an expectations dialogue with your direct reports. Ask the hard questions. Share this newsletter with your leadership team and challenge them to do the same. Culture isn’t built in the boardroom—it’s forged in these moments of clarity.
Let’s pull together. Forward this to a leader who’s ready to win the race—together.
