Expectations insight

One of the keys to having a successful career is understanding what people expect of you and so you can give it to them. And those expectations are different for different constituencies, according to Denison, a company that studies the link between organizational culture and leadership to bottom line performance.

“In our research, we have found that managers typically judge an employee’s performance on a far different set of standards than others do in the workplace,” says Bill Neale, a leadership development expert and founding partner of Denison.

Here are some highlights from Denison’s research regarding what your boss, your direct reports and your peers are likely to want from you:

* Boss: This person expects you to set and achieve strategy, goals and objectives that support the long-term mission of your company. “You can be the greatest team player in the world, or a wonderful ‘people person’ – but if you ignore the organizational mission – you’ll never satisfy the boss,” Neale says.

* Direct reports: Your staffers expect you to promote teamwork, delegate authority and responsibility, and encourage personal development. Getting these folks involved, motivated and committed is crucial to your success. “If you truly

don’t engage the folks who work for you, you won’t win a vote of confidence from them, and you’re not likely to fully leverage their energies and talents,” he says.

* Peers: Your peers expect you to be adaptable, consistent and committed to the organization’s principles and values.  Satisfying your corporate counterparts can be a challenge. Neale notes that they may have less information about you, or view you as a competitor. This group places a high value on flexibility, the ability to surmount organizational boundaries and constraints, and push for alignment in the workplace.

For more information about Denison and its leadership development tools and research, go to https://www.denisonculture.com/