Career News 24/7: The Cynical Girl: Meeting and Exceeding Expectations

Monday, February 4, 2013

The Cynical Girl: Meeting and Exceeding Expectations

Posted: 03 Feb 2013 06:45 AM PST

Most people don’t understand how difficult it is to meet expectations. Spouses. Partners. Boyfriends. Girlfriends. Colleagues. Clients. Friends. Children. Cats. Work. Life. Internal expectations.

It is tough to be consistent. It is tough to do the right thing when you are constrained for time. It is really tough to deliver a solid quality, product or experience when you’re stretched too thin and struggling for scarce resources.

Which is why I always tell people that you cannot exceed expectations before you meet them. First, try to deliver on what has been promised. Then do it again. Then do it one more time. Then wow me.

This applies to your job where you are paid to do very specific things. Please do those things. Do them well. Be happy when you meet expectations. When you get into the groove and have a consistent track record, build on your success. Go bigger.

When you work with clients, your first job is to define your scope of work. Tighten that up. Be specific. Then be more specific. Bullet points are your friend. Meet those bullet points. Tick them off your list. Then surprise and delight your clients with above-average work. But you can’t jump ahead.

The same is true with your personal life. Flowers. Jewelry. Gifts. They are all wasted until you get the basics right. You should start with a solid foundation. Honor your word. Live up to your commitments. Meet expectations and be a decent human being who doesn’t harm others. Love honestly. Accept love with an open heart. Be truthful. Admit your failures. Then go big.

People say that this isn’t rocket science. I think it is rocket science. There is no hack to exceeding expectations. Do the work. Do what you said you will do. Meet expectations. And when you meet expectations, you will most likely dazzle people.

Good job, dudes.

The Week Ahead: February 3, 2013

Posted: 03 Feb 2013 03:45 AM PST

Happy Sunday, everyone. Hope you had a fabulous weekend. We had a fun day on Saturday: we saw tigers, lions and several other carnivores who were once abused and neglected but now live in a sanctuary just outside of Raleigh. It’s an amazing facility. The volunteers were great.

So what’s on your agenda for this week? I’ve abandoned my novel on feminism, coal miners and abortion set in 1960s Appalachia. It was off to a rocky start. I changed gears, late last week, and began work on a collection of short stories that highlight love, alcoholism and political unrest in Prague. The stories are set after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The tone is a mix of Milan Kundera and Václav Havel — with an homage to François Billetdoux for good measure.

I think this one is a keeper.

I have no idea how I’ll manage to blog about HR, careers and work. It will be a busy week.

Hope everyone has a great start on Monday. Go easy on yourselves!