My most recent article started with this sentence:  "We all have expectations."

This week, I encourage you to open yourself to learning about your underlying expectations/assumptions.  As you consider the article, realize that others may know more than you about whether you approach your life and relationships from an underlying presumption of "gratitude" or of "entitlement."  Think about opening yourself to a conversation with those who know you well!

Most leaders have labored their entire careers to be respectable and to gain the favor and loyalty of their bosses and those over whom they have authority.  They've operated with the intent to serve well their customers and their employees.  They've worked diligently to build skills, capitalize on their talents, and expand their influence.  All that unfortunately subjects them to the insidious infiltration of a perspective of "entitlement."

"Beware the Deception of 'Entitlement'" is intended to stimulate your thinking and awareness.

A colleague, Tony Robinson, has given his permission to cite his interesting article on this topic of "entitlement":   http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/308772_faith24.html

Dennis

I started writing an article about "gratitude."  However, that quickly led to the fact that we don't always get what we want or expect, which led to "disappointment."

Sometimes our disappointments occur when expectations have not been defined clearly, and we're aiming at a fuzzy target!

It is so important for a leader to work to explicitly define his or her expectations.  Otherwise, the actions and desired outcomes are so nebulous that no one could reliably deliver what the organization needs.

So, I offer “The Importance of Setting Clear Expectations,” with the intention that I will come back to "gratitude" in my next article.

Dennis