Communicate proactively.
Many of us live in an overwhelmed state where we are constantly reacting to whatever is coming at us. This is an effective survival tactic, but our actions are then determined by what others send at us. Living reactively can also lead to disappointing others because we didn’t manage to deliver on a commitment due to other events.
I often advise clients to flip the script, and proactively communicate updates. Rather than wait until a stakeholder notices you haven’t delivered, and then scramble to cobble something together, or explain why, I recommend saying “this is slipping. how do you want to handle that?” This shows that you’re on top of your commitments, and will work with the stakeholder on options to handle the delay. Communicating proactively in this way reduces disappointment, because expectations are regularly updated, and dissatisfaction comes from a gap between expectations and reality.
Communicating proactively can also work positively in calling your shot. Rather than let others define success, you can set their expectations of what you intend to deliver, and then if you meet or exceed that bar, you look good. Obviously that doesn’t work if you sandbag and set insultingly low expectations, but by setting the bar yourself, you take control of the narrative.
When you communicate reactively, you’re letting other people set the expectations and tell the story, and then have to scramble to counter those expectations.
When you communicate proactively, you anchor stakeholders on the story you want to tell, and the results you expect. Then others have to try to counter the “first mover advantage” you get by telling the first story.
How have you seen this play out in your career?
#expectations #storytelling #communication