Quick Question: What do we expect from each other?
Quick Question
Here is today's quick question for you...What do we expect from each other?
Ask it when you're...
Joining a new organisation or team - When working together for the first time, there can be a whole range of unspoken expectations that, if not acknowledged, can become traps for the team down the track.
Navigating tension - If things start to feel tense in your team, sometimes that’s because your expectations of each other are not being met. Asking an open question like this can help uncover the source of the problem.
Establishing a new partnership - New partnerships are exciting, and there can be a tendency to jump into the work without stopping to align on how you’d like to work together. For more insights on successful partnerships, check out Wednesday Partnership by Phil Hayes-St Clair.
Listen for...
Expectations often link back to values - the drivers of our behaviours and our reactions.
Try to listen for:
Hot buttons - the things that come across as most important to (and likely to produce the biggest reactions from) your team members.
History - situations from the past that they might fear in the future.
Hopes - the aspirations they have for working with you.
This question will help build trust, openness and productivity in your team.
Follow up with...
Sometimes, the greatest value comes from the one extra question you take the time to ask.
In this situation, you could try…
What would ‘letting you down’ look like?
What can I do to exceed your expectations?
What would you like me to know about what is most important to you?
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