Communication is Vital to Avoiding Misunderstandings in Workplace Expectations

When you set expectations for your own performance that are at odds with those of your employer, stress may result. Of course, if a person is hired to do a job and they do not perform then the boss has a right to take corrective action. This may include a meeting to discuss the job requirement or even termination.

There is a different scenario in which an employee puts extra work on his or her own shoulders and after a period of time grows to resent the employer for this. While this seems like an unusual circumstance, it happens when a new employee is zealous to please a new boss and goes too many extra miles in the process.

Certainly the praise that the employee craves will come but the maintenance of such a pace is unsustainable. Over time the employee must defend against regarding the expectations they have placed on their performance to those that the job requires.

Understand your role and do not mistake your boss's accolades as a new directive. Take it as a sign that you may be doing too much if you become irritable or exhausted and find yourself complaining to your spouse that your boss expects too much of you.

Do not let it reach that point before talking to your boss about it. Be open. Most bosses are approachable and feel free to say that while you have worked hard to develop a standard for your position that you must ease up. More than likely your boss will agree that you do too much. Certainly they will want to retain a hard worker.

It is important not to expect your co-workers to meet the higher goals that you have set. They are good employees if they are meeting the boss's requirement not yours. You may have to admit to yourself that you are uptight and without change you may end up being resented.

Take your performance to a standard more in line with the company's goals and expectations. Go easy on yourself, if the boss is displeased you will know it. Doing too much without receiving a new job requirement and then complaining that you are over-worked is folly. Do the best job you can to promote the needs of the company, do not try to be super worker, and communicate with your boss about your feelings for tranquil workplace relationships.