Something I keep coming back to lately: shared expectations

Most companies do a pretty good job setting expectations from the top.

Roles. Responsibilities. Values. The big picture.

That matters.

But where things actually get messy isn’t at the vision level.

It’s in the everyday moments.

Things like:

• Is this deadline firm… or flexible?

• Is using AI okay here, or not

• How polished does the final product really need to be

• When we work remotely, what does “available” actually mean?

• When is a conversation better handled offline, in writing, or face-to-face?

• When is it truly worth meeting in person?

• And what’s expected when someone is overloaded or stretched thin?

When expectations aren’t clearly talked about, people don’t stop operating.

They just fill in the gaps.

And those gaps get filled with assumptions.

This isn’t just a work thing.

It shows up in vida también.

In a couple of weeks, I’ll be traveling to Mexico to handle some real estate matters, meet with my attorney and accountant, spend time on our property, refresh a tenant contract, and, hopefully, see close family and friends.

Part of that work includes clearly clarifying expectations in a tenant agreement.

• What happens when rent isn’t paid on time, late fees, cargos adicionales

• What’s firm, what’s flexible, and what isn’t

That kind of clarity protects the relationship on both sides.

And just like at work, the responsibility is mostly on me for this trip:

• Being explicit with my attorney and accountant about timelines and priorities

• Sharing my itinerary instead of assuming schedules will magically align

• Naming my hopes—and seeing where there’s real overlap

That way, there’s less guessing.

Less tension.

More alignment.

Clarity isn’t cold. Voice isn’t selfish.

It’s respeto, claridad, confianza, y relación.

Whether you’re leading a team, managing a project, refreshing a contract, or navigating family time, things tend to flow better when:

1. You say what you’re expecting

2. You invite others to say what they’re expecting

Shared expectations aren’t about control.

They’re about creating a smoother, more human experience, together.

And when they’re named early and revisited along the way, everything just moves with a little more ease.

So here’s a simple question to sit with:

What expectation am I carrying right now that I haven’t clearly communicated?

¿Qué expectativa estoy cargando en este momento que aún no he comunicado con claridad?

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