Failing to Meet Expectations: A Call to Reflect and Refocus
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Failing to Meet Expectations: A Call to Reflect and Refocus
Have you ever walked into a situation with the expectation of receiving at least the bare minimum and found yourself leaving disappointed, frustrated, or downright appalled? Whether it’s an unreliable service provider, a poorly managed restaurant, or even unmet personal or professional goals, the gap between our expectations and reality can be major.
In the latest episode of the KimUnity Soulutions Podcast, I spoke about how these moments of failed expectations can serve as a mirror—not just for businesses and service providers, but for all of us. Are we truly meeting expectations in our personal lives, professional roles, or relationships? How do we even know what's expected of us? Was it ever communicated or just expected? And, are we working towards exceeding them?
There are four Types of Expectations that were discussed:
- Personal Expectations: These are the goals and standards we set for ourselves. Are you exercising as planned? Maintaining a healthy diet? Improving your mindset and reactions?
- Professional Expectations: These refer to the standards in our workplaces, such as timeliness, cleanliness, or performance metrics. Are you meeting your KPIs?
- Interpersonal Expectations: This category covers customer or team interactions. Are you creating positive experiences for others, or are you falling short like the restaurant in my story?
- External Expectations: Often driven by friends, family, or societal pressures. Are you balancing external demands without compromising your priorities?
What we all know is that: The Bare Minimum Isn’t Enough
Meeting expectations is foundational, but transformation happens when we go beyond that. In relationships, businesses, and even personal development, the bare minimum rarely creates impact. Excellence requires intentionality, empathy, and a desire for more, whether it's relationship, return customers, reputation, or growth and success.
Lessons in Accountability
Even when we feel wronged, it’s important to evaluate whether we’ve miscommunicated or misjudged a situation. As I shared in the podcast, I once mistook my own scheduling error for a service provider’s negligence and how a growing experience of poor customer service automatically had me to believe it was another disappointment on their end. In all actuality, I had to acknowledge and own my own mistake. When is the last time you've apologized or accepted responsibility?
Reflect and Improve
Where do you fall short? Ask for feedback from others and pay attention to patterns in their responses. Instead of aiming for perfection, aim for continuous improvement.
A Closing Challenge
Take a moment to reflect:
- Are you meeting expectations in the areas that matter most?
- Where can you go the extra mile to create a positive ripple effect?
Listen to the full podcast by clicking the link below.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6hnhsBMburhzP08tswuu5a?si=6f2816432cf846f8
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everyone-is-replaceable/id1688653051?i=1000680926333