#343: Expecting rewards from the jolly fat man
It’s that time of year again and you’re wondering whether you’ve been good enough to expect a reward from the jolly fat man in the corner office.
Ah, but there’s a catch to the idea of ‘to expect’. The word ‘expectation’ has two meanings: likely-to-happen and ought-to-happen. In organizations, likely-to-happen often outweighs ought-to-happen. In other words, your boss knows what behavior is required, but believes that inappropriate behavior is more likely to occur.
This can cause a vicious cycle. Your boss’s expectation of how you will behave can determine how he or she treats you. In turn, that treatment will affect how you respond, which then reinforces your boss’s expectation.
Some bosses would prefer inappropriate behavior as an excuse not to reward you, but that’s not the bad news. The bad news is that whatever reward you expect, it’s not necessarily based on your real performance.
But maybe, in your case, that’s the good news.
I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com
Listen to the radio version of 'Don’t listen to your customers'
(10 most recent radio files)
James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA
Copyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh
Ah, but there’s a catch to the idea of ‘to expect’. The word ‘expectation’ has two meanings: likely-to-happen and ought-to-happen. In organizations, likely-to-happen often outweighs ought-to-happen. In other words, your boss knows what behavior is required, but believes that inappropriate behavior is more likely to occur.
This can cause a vicious cycle. Your boss’s expectation of how you will behave can determine how he or she treats you. In turn, that treatment will affect how you respond, which then reinforces your boss’s expectation.
Some bosses would prefer inappropriate behavior as an excuse not to reward you, but that’s not the bad news. The bad news is that whatever reward you expect, it’s not necessarily based on your real performance.
But maybe, in your case, that’s the good news.
I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com
Listen to the radio version of 'Don’t listen to your customers'
(10 most recent radio files)
James can be heard on Public Radio: Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA | 89.1 FM WCNV, Heathsville VA | 90.1 FM WMVE, Chase City VA
Copyright: 2009 James Henry McIntosh
1 Comments:
I do like jolly fat men and women in the corner office. Takes them that much time to get to where I am...and then... I'm gone!
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