expectations – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Don’t Touch The Thermostat

Be a thermostat, not a thermometer – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The earliest recorded history of the thermostat dates back to 1620 when the Dutch inventor Cornelius Drebbel used mercury to control the temperature in chicken coops.

Later, in 1830, Andrew Ure, a Scottish chemist, patented the first modern thermostat, a bimetallic device that curved with temperature changes. In 1883, Warren S. Johnson developed the first electric room thermostat, which allowed for more convenient room temperature regulations in buildings.

I don’t know about your home, but thermostat battles have loomed large in mine for many years, dating back to when our two daughters lived there. Since then, finding the right setting has been a constant struggle.

My wife and I are empty-nesters, and it is still challenging as we age. The battle of the thermostat continues as our bodies fluctuate between being hot and cold. Depending on the hour, our home may have a nice warm tropical feel; the next, it could be an arctic blast. There’s no rhyme or reason, but the electric company loves us.

In leadership, you constantly struggle with being the thermostat. As a thermostat, you desire to set the pace for yourself and your team. The thermometer reflects the actual temperature. The challenge is getting everyone in their sweet spot of performance.

Mary Kay Ash observed, “The speed of the leader is the speed of the gang,” and this is your challenge as a leader. Is your speed or thermostat setting one that works for your team? Finding the right balance is essential for success. Here are three considerations for you to think through.

When your thermostat and expectations are set too low

If this is ever the case for you as a leader, you will cultivate an underperforming team. Finding and achieving excellence will always be elusive because your thermostat or standard is too low. As such, nothing noteworthy is being accomplished.

When no one within your organization is challenged or inspired by your vision and leadership, morale will be low, turnover will be high, and people who strive to create, grow, and be successful will be on the way out sooner rather than later.

Your people will embrace your leadership, vision, and dreams when they see that you have not set the bar too low and are pursuing them with excellence.

When your thermostat and expectations are too high

As a leader, you must have high expectations and goals. People need to know what they are, their role in meeting them, have accountability measures in place, etc., but as the leader, you also live in the tension between the two.

When expectations are too low, little is accomplished. When expectations are too high, the same could hold true even if the right motivations are present. So, how do you navigate this tension as a leader?

When your expectations and thermostat are optimal

Individual performance in the workplace is optimal when you set and model the thermostat (the pace and flow). Individual team members can adjust their thermostats to meet those expectations when set. They know where the bar is for performance and output.

When this happens, team members can reach and exceed their goals under the best conditions. Productivity can increase, morale can flourish, and it’s happening in an environment that is right for them.

This will challenge you as a leader because it begins with you. You will set the standard others will follow, so strive for optimal performance.

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Leadership Minute: Raise Your Expectations

Posted October 15, 2014
by admin

Act like you expect to get into the end zone. – Christopher Morley

One of the greatest battles you will face in leadership is the one that is waged between your ears. Mental toughness and endurance is a necessity for any leader who desires to succeed. But until you raise your expectations of what success looks like you will be hard pressed to achieve it. Call it an act of faith- and perhaps it is, but you have to picture successes in your mind before they become a reality. If the mental pictures you have are negative and filled with frustrations and disappointments they will be hard to overcome. But what leader doesn’t battle negative thoughts from time to time? Do you now understand why mental toughness is so important? Don’t allow negative thoughts or attitudes to fill your mind or thought processes. Raise your expectations to new levels not based upon what you see at the moment but on the great things you envision for the future. Once you raise your expectations you can take steps to achieve those goals.

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The Power of Your Perceptions

Posted July 3, 2014
by admin
2 Comments on The Power of Your Perceptions

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwbq9SFP3_A]

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Leadership Minute: Raise Expectations

If I had asked my customers what they wanted they would have told me, “A faster horse.” – Henry Ford

One of your challenges as a leader will be in raising the expectations of those around you. People tend to be creatures of habit and can be quite comfortable with the status quo. Challenging for any leader is the ability to cast vision high enough and realistic enough that people can catch on without being overwhelmed. You can raise expectations for a better future by making the case, showing the way, and explaining the advantages. Sometimes people around you settle for what they have because no one has shown them a better way. Your leadership should inspire others to reach for new heights, look beyond their present circumstances, and believe that they can achieve on a higher level. You can raise their expectations as you raise your expectations. Don’t just settle – go higher!

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Leadership Minute: Prepare Your Victory Speech

I never expect to lose. Even when I’m the underdog, I still prepare a victory speech. – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Your expectations as a leader are very important. They are reflective of your attitude which is a strong indicator of your mindset. When you have high expectations about your tasks at hand and the future you are working toward it sets you up for success. We all face obstacles and the path is not always smooth. Sometimes you may even be the underdog. But when you choose to embrace a positive attitude over a negative attitude you are more inclined to come out ahead. Control your thoughts and you control your attitude. Control your attitude and you control your destiny. Have you prepared your victory speech?

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Expectant Leadership

Posted June 6, 2012
by dougdickerson

I came across a story about a young psychology student serving in the Army who decided to test a theory. Drawing kitchen duty, he was given the job of passing out apricots at the end of the chow line. He asked the first few soldiers that came by, “You don’t want any apricots, do you?” Ninety percent said “No.”

Then he tried the positive approach: “You do want apricots, don’t you?” About half answered, “Uh, yeah. I’ll take some.” Then he tried a third test, based on the fundamental either/or selling technique. This time he asked, “One dish of apricots or two?” And in spite of the fact that soldiers don’t like Army apricots, 40 percent took two dishes and 50 percent took one!

High expectations are necessary in business and management but how you communicate those expectations will make all the difference. If you are not meeting your expectations take a look at the approach you are taking and if necessary change your style. Strong leaders know how to speak the language of a motivator.

What approach have you found to be most effective?

Follow Doug at www.twitter.com/managemntmoment

Doug’s new book, Great Leaders Wanted!, is now available. Visit www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com to order your copy today!

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