Team Building / Method: Expectancy Effect

 

Relate study of dull and bright rats being taught to complete a maze. Discuss the power of beliefs on team performance and explicit/implicit expectations.

 

Instruction: Answer the following questions about your crew.

 

1. What are your explicit beliefs about your crew?

• What were you told about your crew? I was told.....

• What has been said about your crew? People say.....

• What do you know about your crew?  Write down everything you can think of about your crew? 

 

2. What are your implicit expectations/beliefs about your crew

• What are your expectations ? I expect.....

• What have you learned about your crew? I have learned.....

• Do you have any assumptions? I assume.....

 

3. Positive or Negative (identify which of your expectations serve you and which damage you)

• Circle all positive ones and underline all negative ones.

• Leverage all positive expectations. 

• Build on the positive list: more details + more stories = more positive outcomes

 

Write negative expectations on a new piece of paper/add any additional negative expectations you have 

4. Eliminate negative expectations using argue with yourself to eradicate them or fix them

• Why might my belief not be true?

• What sources of information could I have missed or minimized on the way to reaching my beliefs?

• What are the reasons someone else could have a different belief, what’s their support, and why might they be right instead of me?

• Purpose: shut down your negative expectations. Can you turn them into single experiences instead of assumptions. Negative expectations need to be Discussed • Addressed • Fixed

 

Wrap up: Leaders set the standards of the team. Learn to articulate your expectations and demonstrate them daily. Setting expectations clarifies roles and defines behavior and culture.  Adopt a “yes we can” attitude” toward projects.

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Action: Consider ways this exercise can help your team and what actions you can take to implement this into your leadership style.