In the October issue of Network, Marvin Montgomery emphasized the power of expectations.
People tend to perform to expectations - if they know what they are.
In fact, that principle is one of 10 that guide my own work in human resource development. Montgomery identified 10 essential factors to achieving the best results with a new employee. I would add that clarifying expectations should not to be limited to new employees. Regular performance feedback is one way of assuring continual understanding of expectations. Unfortunately, feedback is frequently lacking in today's organizations, particularly feedback to and from first-line managers and employees.