How Do I Know Whether I’ve Made My Expectations Clear?
Ask the other person to describe the result they are working toward, the decisions they can make, and when they will update you.
Compare their understanding with yours. Agreement on the task does not always mean agreement on what finished looks like or who is responsible for getting it there.
They Heard the Assignment. You Assumed the Rest.
You explained the work. They nodded. You moved on, believing you were both clear.
Then the result came back differently than you expected. They waited for approval you did not know they needed. Or you had to chase an update you assumed they would send.
Now you are re-explaining, correcting, or finishing work you thought you had handed off.
Clear to You Does Not Always Mean Clear to Them.
You know the client, the history, and the standard. Some of what feels obvious to you may never have been said.
Check four things: the result, who owns it, which decisions they can make, and how you will stay informed.
Leave room for them to explain how they will approach the work and where they need support. You may discover a different interpretation before it becomes rework.
What am I expecting them to know that I have not actually made clear?
Check Understanding Before You Move On.
At your next handoff, ask the other person to walk you through these four points in their own words:
The result: What will be finished, by when, and what standard does it need to meet?
The ownership: What are you responsible for carrying through to completion?
The decisions: What can you decide, and when do you need to involve me?
The follow-up: When will you update me, and what should you flag before then?
Explain that you are checking how well you communicated. If your answers differ, work through the difference before the work moves ahead.
Clarity Gives Ownership Somewhere to Hold.
Clear expectations do not guarantee that everything will go right. They give you both a shared reference for the work.
When something slips, you can discuss the agreed result and what needs to change, with less guessing, re-explaining, and taking the work back.
Bring an Expectation You’ve Struggled to Make Clear.
We’ll look at what you communicated, what the other person understood, and what needs to be clearer so they can carry the work.
45 minutes. Bring one real situation. We’ll start there.