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Dear Faculty Relations: I’ve worked hard to establish common sense expectations for my staff, but people aren't following them. What am I doing wrong? —Fumbling in the Foothills

Dear Fumbling: I’ll give you the bad news first. Common sense doesn't exist.

Actually, let me rephrase that. Common sense exists, but only after it’s made. You might feel like your expectations are clear and obvious, but I’m wondering if your staff might think otherwise. Expectations only become common sense when they've been communicated and are known across your office culture.

But never fear, Fumbling, because there is also good news. Common-sense expectations are easy to establish in a few simple steps:

• Start with non-negotiables. Non-negotiables are core standards that ensure your office runs at its best. These are items like, we greet visitors with a smile or, we treat our colleagues with respect. You should have just a small handful of non-negotiables.
• Co-create your other expectations. Have you ever met someone who likes to be told what to do? In all my years of work in human resources, I have never come across such a person. Involve your team in creating everything outside of your non-negotiables.
• Share your intent. Start any conversation about expectations by sharing your purpose and goals. Perhaps it’s, “I want us to have a conversation shared expectations so that we can ensure great experiences for us as a team and for everyone who interacts with us.” But whatever it is, be clear and speak from your heart.
• Write it down. Capture all your ideas—both your non-negotiables and your team’s ideas—in a shared document and grant everyone access.
• Finally, remember that common sense needs to be made and remade. This isn’t one-and-done. You’ll need to revisit these expectations on a regular basis. Start on a semester clock and adjust as needed.

Of course, these are written from a staff perspective. The same principles apply for faculty colleagues and students in classrooms—even life at home!

Still worried about that elusive common sense? Organization and Employee Development provides personalized support for team development. Please feel free to reach out.

Written by Lauren Harris, Assistant Director of Training and Development, Organization and Employee Development, Human Resources

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