Managing Employees' Expectations: A Cornerstone of Effective HRM
Employee expectation is like the foundation of the relationship between managers and employees. This is the fact that influences workplace satisfaction, productivity and retention. In the global business world, understanding how this would be handled effectively is quite challenging. This post will discuss the essential strategies and theories behind this expectation management from an HR perspective.
Understanding Employee Expectations
According to Imbrie, R. (2021) and the article of Understanding and meeting employee expectations at “Qualtrics”, there are three major types of employee expectations.
Basic expectations - When new hires sign an employment
contract, they expect the employer to pay them a set wage at a set time, train
them properly, offer a safe and clean working environment and explain company
policies.
'Great to have' expectations - Employees who want more than
just a job that pays the bills they expect their company to go further and
offer Great onboarding, Great culture, Work-life balance, opportunity for
growth, recognition etc.
Future employee expectations – Today employees expect more, Employees
now expect employers to create flexible working environments, physical and
mental wellbeing, More workplace flexibility, greater connection with
colleagues etc.
Two key theories inform how organisations should manage
employee expectations.
Expectancy Theory
Vroom (1964) cited in Armstrong (2009) proposed that high individual performance depends on high motivation plus the necessary skills and abilities, and they expect that they will be able to get the reward and that the reward will be worthwhile.
AMO Theory
Boxall and Purcell, (2003), cited in Armstrong (2009), the formula they used is
Performance = Ability+ Motivation+ Opportunity.
Effective management of employee expectations must address all three components to ensure optimal performance. developing HR systems that attend to employees’ interests, namely their skill requirements, motivations and the quality of their job.
Best Practices for Managing Employee Expectations
According to O’Connell, B (2020), these are the key steps to
follow for HRM to set employees expectations.
- Clearly defined objectives and key results.
- Set expectations early and give a clear understanding how their values align with the company.
- Make employees accountable.
- Give meaningful feedback when require.
- Leverage motivation ( CEO of Surehand once said "Put yourself in your employees' shoes, and think what would motivate them")
- The gaols should make as measurable.
To see more details about managing employees' expectations,
please see this interesting YouTube video.
Figure1 Source : https://www.qualtrics.com/en-au/experience-management/employee/employee-expectations/
According to Rathnayake U. (2024), in the Sri Lankan context,
the level of job stress experienced by employees is reported to be worsening
compared to many other countries. According to the Gallup Survey 2023, a
significant number (58%) of respondents from Sri Lanka said they were stressed
for most of the previous days. This emphasises the immediate requirement for
stress management interventions to enhance resilience and the psychological
well-being of Sri Lankan employees. Therefore, this is a key area to address
and in the future, HRM needs to intervene stress management. Also, strategic policies
should be implemented to enhance resilience and the psychological well-being of
Sri Lankan employees.
Conclusion
Managing employee expectations is not a one-time effort and it is an ongoing process. HRM needs to have consistent communication, transparency, and adaptability to get the process carried out. In the Sri Lankan context, I see blending traditional cultural values with modern workplace expectations as a challenge to HR professionals. When they create a successful environment to manage where employees feel valued, understood, and aligned with organizational goals it will play a wining game for the organisation.
References
Armstrong, M. (2009) Armstrong's Handbook of Strategic Human
Resource Management 11th edition (Online) PP 7 and PP325. Accessed
on 30th March 2025.
Qualtrics xm Understanding and meeting employee expectations
(Online) Available at https://www.qualtrics.com/en-au/experience-management/employee/employee-expectations/.
Accessed on 30th March 2025.
Gouldsberry M. (2022) How to set clear employee expectations
for your team (online) Available at https://www.betterworks.com/magazine/employee-expectations/.
Accessed on 30th March 2025.
O’Connell (2020) 6 Tips on Setting Expectations for
Employees at SHRM (online) Available at https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/managing-smart/6-tips-setting-expectations-employees.
Accessed on 31st March 2025.
Rathnayake U (2024) Daily FT Urgent attention from business
leaders required to mitigate employee job stress in manufacturing firms
(online) Available at https://www.ft.lk/columns/Urgent-attention-from-business-leaders-required-to-mitigate-employee-job-stress-in-manufacturing-firms/4-761416.
Accessed on 30th March 2025.
Imbrie R. (2021). Employee expectations are shifting. Can you meet them at The Predictive Index (online), Available at https://www.predictiveindex.com/blog/employee-expectations/. Accessed on 30th March 2025.
Managing employee expectations is key to improving satisfaction and productivity. Clear communication, setting achievable goals, and regular feedback align employees' needs with company objectives. Understanding stress and offering support is crucial, especially in the Sri Lankan context.
ReplyDeleteManaging employees' expectations is indeed a cornerstone of effective HRM. Clear communication, transparency, and setting realistic goals are key to maintaining trust and ensuring alignment between employees and the organization. A proactive approach to expectations can lead to greater satisfaction and improved performance. Looking forward to more strategies on this important topic!
ReplyDeleteUnderstanding and managing employee expectations is essential in today’s workplace. Clear communication between management and staff fosters a positive environment. When employers meet employees’ needs, it enhances job satisfaction and motivation, resulting in a more engaged workforce and lower turnover rates. Ultimately, managing expectations helps employees feel valued and understood.
ReplyDeleteManaging employee expectations is crucial for fostering a productive and motivated workforce. By understanding and addressing their needs—ranging from basic expectations to future desires—HR can create a positive environment. Clear communication, goal-setting, and support for well-being, especially in Sri Lanka’s context, are key to employee satisfaction and retention.
ReplyDeleteThis is an ongoing process with consistent communication, transparency and adaptability. By creating supportive environment, employee feel valued, and aligned with organisational goals, leads to success.
ReplyDeleteManaging employee expectations is key to boosting satisfaction and performance. Clear communication, feedback, and understanding what motivates employees are essential for success
ReplyDeleteManaging employees' expectations helps to foster a positive work environment and increase job satisfaction. When employees' expectations are met, they are more likely to be motivated, engaged, and committed to the organization, leading to improved productivity and reduced turnover rates. By clearly communicating company goals, policies, and expectations, HR managers can set the tone for a successful and harmonious workplace, where employees feel valued and supported in their roles.
ReplyDeleteManaging employees' expectations is significant for effective HRM, as it cultivates trust, enhances job satisfaction, and aligns individual goals with organizational objectives. Clear communication, transparent policies, and regular feedback help to ensure employees to understand their roles, career paths, and company's key concerns, ultimately contributing to a positive and productive workplace.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Managing employee expectations helps build trust and improves workplace relationships. Clear communication is key to keeping employees satisfied and aligned with goals
ReplyDeleteYou’ve nicely explained how to manage employees' expectations in your blog post. In my view, HR professionals should focus on clear communication, being open, and staying flexible to create a workplace where employees feel respected and valued. I really appreciate the useful insights and look forward to more posts like this!
ReplyDeleteUnderstanding & managing employees' expectations is a timely necessity from the employers’ perspective thus retaining their workforce. With many opportunities in place, retaining skill full & talented employees is a very hard exercise and periodic reviews should be carried out to monitor the employees’ satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteAs you have mentioned here by aligning organizational goals with employees' needs, HR can enhance motivation, performance, and well being. Integrating strategies like clear communication, performance management, and stress interventions is key to ensuring a balanced, thriving workplace, particularly in Sri Lanka's context.
ReplyDelete