Episode 233
233. Don’t Hold Secret Expectations: Why Clarity Builds High-Performing Teams
If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “They should know better” about someone on your team, this episode is for you.
In today’s episode I break down a trap that many founders and managers fall into: holding secret expectations—unspoken rules that frustrate you when broken but were never actually communicated in the first place.
Whether it’s scheduling mid-day appointments, not replying fast enough, or showing up unprepared to meetings, these invisible standards hurt performance, erode trust, and create unnecessary team drama.
I share real-world examples from my HR consulting work, explain why this dynamic happens (even to the best leaders), and give you a step-by-step guide to setting clear, kind, and actionable team operating procedures that support accountability without micromanaging.
What You’ll Learn:
- What “secret expectations” are and how they quietly show up in teams
- The real reason you get frustrated with employees who should know better
- How to turn unspoken assumptions into documented team norms
- Why clear operating procedures are essential for scaling effectively
- A framework to reset expectations without eroding trust
- How to reflect on your own leadership habits and start fresh
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