In sports, you hear about the average team who won after they completed the unthinkable and won a championship against all the odds or an ordinary person who successfully starts and sells a billion-dollar company from nothing. But, what truly sets the team of destiny and determined entrepreneurs apart from others? How can skin care professionals learn from the success of others to enhance ourselves, both personally and professionally? The answer is found in the individual’s ability to set expectations for themselves and their teams that determine their success.

 When is the last time you have set or reset personal and professional expectations? If the answer is not recently, then it is time to raise the bar and elevate those expectations. In general, high expectations improve performance, whereas low expectations result in underachievement.

Every aspect of life is filled with expectations that set that are personal and those that are expected from others. Professionals must be prepared to provide excellent results if they plan to succeed in all aspects of life. There are a few proven methods to help us achieve success by setting higher expectations for themselves and those in the community. 

SET HIGH EXPECTATIONS FROM THE START 

In 1963 Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobsen conducted a study in a classroom. The students took a test to identify those who were most likely to achieve academic success. Teachers were informed of the small group of students known as “growth spurters” who were expected to have the most promise. At the end of the school year, these students indeed soared high above their classmates academically. 

The catch? The overachievers had been chosen at random at the beginning of the study. The only difference between these students and their peers was that their teachers held them to a higher standard because they were under the impression these particular students were gifted and the teachers wanted to see them succeed.

The same idea may be used in the workplace. When employees and co-workers know that excellence is expected from the start, they are eager to go above and beyond what is asked to achieve success and stand out from the crowd. Setting the bar high for everyone sends a message that each person is expected to show above average results, and motivating their co-workers to keep up so that they do not fall behind. Managers should also have high-performance expectations of themselves, as this can lead to better results and more significant achievements for both themselves and their team. 

CELEBRATE THE SMALL VICTORIES

When an individual or team achieves success, whether big or small, positive reinforcement is the greatest resource available to continue to produce results. When an individual has dramatically improved performance over a short period, they should be recognized in order to celebrate this improvement and encourage continued growth that will then enhance continued success. A simple “great job” or “thank you for your hard work” will go a long way in keeping up morale in the workplace and give employees an extra boost of confidence that will push them towards continued excellence. 

ADDRESS FAILURES IMMEDIATELY 

When a task or project is not completed on time or is done incorrectly, it must not be ignored. Instead, the problem should be addressed head-on, making it known that failure is unacceptable. If it is a group effort, each participant should have the opportunity to discuss their individual contribution, one-on-one with their manager. This should be a time during which they and their manager walk through the steps of what went wrong and assess together what could have been done to convert the failure into a success. It is not a game of blame, but instead, encourages each person to improve on an individual level. Every individual has strengths and weaknesses and through these discussions, one can identify an area of strength while providing guidance on how to improve upon their weaknesses. Then evaluate what the team and manager can do to make it easier to come together for the next project to create a high level of success. 

As humans, we all make mistakes. It is essential to recognize that no one is perfect. By addressing failures head-on, it is easier to manage expectations moving forward and encourage individuals to press on and crave excellence, both in the workplace and in their personal lives.

PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT

When an employee, co-worker, or family member knows they have someone to back them up, they are much more likely to achieve a higher success rate. When faced with an overwhelming task that requires additional help, it is critical that they know what resources can be utilized to make each project into their most significant achievement to date.

Higher expectations really can lead to exceptional results, but only if the expectations are clear from the start and each person knows they have the necessary support that will help them achieve success.