Something I’m deeply passionate about is the importance of creating agreements instead of setting expectations. The two concepts are quite different in many ways, but for the sake of brevity, here’s the short version: Expectations are imposed, demeaning, and often convey a lack of willingness to talk about the people, processes, tools, technology, and time needed to get the job done. Agreements, on the other hand, are about working effectively, taking what we know about the time and resources available, and creating a solution or path to new opportunities together.
We see the benefits of agreements demonstrated in some of the world’s largest, longest-running institutions. When agreements are made and adhered to, those involved know things will be fair, just, and regulated. A very topical example of this would be the Olympic Games. Athletes, coaches, and officials all operate under agreed-upon rules and standards. For over 200 years, the Olympics have shown us how agreements-based cultures excel at bringing large groups of people together and enabling them to achieve great things.
Read more in The Olympics and the Power of Agreements.
Choosing agreements over expectations helps build trust and respect with team members. Some are small (“Lunch at noon?”), and some are big. Big agreements tend to be accompanied by a lot of conversations around the pros and cons of an idea. The important thing here is that agreements are entered into together, whereas expectations are assigned.
