Your Voice: Congratulations! You have met work expectations … I think.

“Meeting work expectations.” This is one expression that strikes me whenever it hits my ears. I find myself thinking when I hear it: What does it mean exactly? Are we talking about the same thing? What if your boss’s notion of work expectations is different from yours? What happens when your wife’s or your parent’s or your kid’s — or even your pet’s — expectations are different than yours?

I know many of you are probably smiling and thinking, “Aha … here is another boring article about performance evaluations.” No, it’s not. I assure you this is not one of them.

“Meeting work expectations” is one of the most used phrases related to an employee’s performance, and yet few seem to care to ask about its meaning. Some people pretend to know; others don’t bother to ask. This might cause some discomfort or embarrassment if an employee actually did inquire about the meaning of the phrase.

I’ve asked some of my ex-workmates what it means to them, and I was shocked to hear a wide range of completely different interpretations. Some confirmed that it refers to rules and regulations, like reporting to and departing from work. Some indicated certain skills that you have to master, such as computer or communication skills.

But here is the question: Is there any written document that tells employees what is specifically expected of them? Or maybe this information is normally said during the first meeting with the boss? Or maybe it’s an unwritten rule? Who knows? 

“Meeting work expectations” is one of the most used phrases related to an employee’s performance, and yet few seem to care to ask about its meaning. Some people pretend to know; others don’t bother to ask. This might cause some discomfort or embarrassment if an employee actually did inquire about the meaning of the phrase.

It might be risky if you ever ask your boss, “What do you expect me to do?” as this could open the door for unexpected surprises, so some people prefer not to ask. That could hit back if you are described as “not meeting work expectations.” You kept working assuming that you do “meet work expectations.”

On a personal side, I might be a little bit hesitant to ask my dear wife what she expects from me. That could drag me into an undesirable conversation, like helping wash the dishes and funding some of her expensive trips to shopping malls. It seems I am often found to be “not meeting family expectations.” 

What about my cat’s expectations?  Sometimes, I give her milk and I can tell from her meowing that she was expecting something else. Sometimes I feel my cat hates me watching TV football matches — she seems to like cartoons. It’s not easy to meet expectations, especially when you are not fully sure of what these expectations are in the first place.

Your Voice reflects the thoughts and opinions of the writer, and not necessarily those of the publication.