What do you Expect?

Expectations are a quirky thing.

We create them for everything, often without realizing it.
From how people should behave to how a day should unfold — even how good of a night sleep we should have.

When expectations are met, we feel content.
When they’re exceeded, we get a hit of dopamine.
But when they’re missed.. watch out.

…1-Star Review has entered the chat.

And here’s a kicker: not all expectations are created equal.

I see two types.

There are the spoken ones, which are mutually agreed upon, understood, and known.
And then there are silent ones, which are assumed, unvoiced, and loaded with emotion.

The latter are where most problems start.

We run an illuminated night walk called Glenlore Trails. For the most part, it’s a lot of fun. The immediate feedback to new ideas, being part of a communities traditions, and genuinely bringing smiles to people is meaningful.

There are a variety of special events we host that have slightly higher ticket pricing than normal days to help offset the added programming.

We once had a customer so upset we wouldn’t switch them from a regular night, to a more expensive event night, for free, they left us a 1-star review before even attending the experience.

They had created a silent expectation that we’d do it.

We hadn’t agreed to any of that, but the emotional fallout was real.

You’ve probably seen the same dynamic play out in work or relationships.

Silent expectations can be especially tricky.

They also sound ridiculous if you say them out loud:
“Why didn’t you do the thing I thought you would do, even though I never asked?”

When left unchecked, they almost always lead to disappointment.

A simple check-in:

Before frustration builds, ask:
Was the expectation ever clearly communicated?

If not, you’re setting yourself up for silent, unmet expectations.

And when you feel yourself getting let down, try this:

Clarify.
Confirm.
Communicate early.

We can’t eliminate surprises.
But we can get better at managing what we expect.

🔗 Let’s connect! linkedin.com/in/scottschoeneberger.