How Work Expectations Affect Loyalty

Do you know what your work expectations are? How do your expectations affect your work? What do you do with your unmet needs? Everyone has expectations. Some are spoken while others are not. Research on expectations in the workplace has shown that employment relationships are strongly affected by expectations. As a person begins a job, certain expectations of that position are made clear, such as salary, the hours he or she will be working, and the tasks that will be performed while at work. Frequently, however, other expectations are not clearly stated or are simply assumed.

Expectations influence thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and attitudes. Attitudes can significantly impact others, whether intentionally or not. Creating and maintaining a positive attitude is important to every organization. Open dialogue between employer and employees helps to uncover the unspoken, unrecognized expectations that can result in negative attitudes. Greater job satisfaction is likely when expectations are well communicated and clearly defined.

For example, everyone knows compensation is important to all employees, although every employee differs on how much compensation is expected. What is important to a healthcare employer is whether its staff believes that their salaries meet their expectations. If a salary doesn't meet expectations and an employee doesn't make this expectation known, he or she will look for and eventually find another employer, or worse, continue working and possibly develop a negative attitude.



Your staff differ on their expectations about many things. People differ on their expectations about the amount of information needed to do their jobs. They have expectations about types of recognition, levels of autonomy, how social they want the environment to be, and how physically demanding the environment should be. Helping them understand and manage their expectations will create an organization that ensures commitment.

The ability to express concerns and express creativity is different for each person. People differ on the amount of teamwork they want and need. They differ on the amount of stability they want in their positions. Helping your nursing staff to express these differing expectations is no easy task, but it can be done if you have the right tools.

It is not only important for nurses to know what their expectations are, but it is also important for them to know what to do about it if they are not getting their expectations met.

Creating loyalty requires an detailed understanding of employee expectations, and careful consideration of how best to meet and manage those expectations.

To help increase your organization's understanding of expectations, contact Doris Young at 800 673-8005 or at www.DorisYoungAssociates.com.