first time they did, things felt very different to me.
I distinctly remember thinking to myself , ‘I‘ve never done this work before, but this person expects me to do it’. ‘What do I do now?’ ‘Do I explain my problem or do I just get on with it?’
I was reluctant to say anything because the person seemed to genuinely think I was doing work at the higher level. They did not seem to understand what level I was supposed to work at, and I found it difficult to
disappoint a person who had such confidence in me.
So, what did I do? Well, I made a couple of phone calls, spent the night reading up on the issues and the next day - I got on with it.
Looking at people, not as they are, but as you want them to be
It was much later on that I realised the person was just using the power of expectation on me. So, what’s the trick here? How does it work?
Well, if there is one, it is the trick of looking at people, not as they are, but as you want them to be. Looking past their current experience and convincing yourself that this person has already reached their potential and, what is more, they are still growing. Then, it is taking the time to talk to people as if they had all the ability you need them to have already. In ‘My Fair Lady’, Professor Higgins knows that Eliza has potential, but fears failure and lacks confidence. Communicating his expectation built the confidence she needed to succeed.
The important thing here is that you need to be convinced yourself that the person can, and will, do what you want. This is not just a technique. Too many people can tell if you mean it, or if you are trying it on. If you don’t believe it - they won’t believe it.
Well you might think, ‘What about people who are untrained?’ ‘We cannot just dump the work on them’. That is true, but I recall that the people who used the power of expectation on me were:
1. Rather matter of fact - so as to help me believe this was quite normal for them, and quite normal for me
2. Careful to extend my abilities a little at a time, so
that my confidence grew
I now feel that a form of collusion starts to occur with this process, and the two people concerned collaborate rather than contend over who is capable of doing what. This was best illustrated, in my case, when having agreed to do something well above my level - I casually mentioned that there was a training course that might be useful.
It was then that I knew I was taking part in a conspiracy
What I did not say was ‘I desperately need this course’. So, without looking up, my boss just said ‘You’d better book yourself on it then’. It was then that I knew I was taking part in a conspiracy. It was a conspiracy in which I did not say that I knew what was happening. It was also a conspiracy in which everyone else knew that I knew - but said nothing. And why not? My career and earnings potential were both going along in leaps and bounds and, what is more, I seemed to have a great rapport with my bosses.
I would like to encourage you to have a go at getting better results by using the power of your expectation. Do your best to let go of some higher level work, and treat the people who are going to do the work as if they already have the ability to do most of it.
You may need to stop looking at people as they are, but as you want them to be. A good start might be to raise your expectations of yourself. Maybe you could ask yourself the question: ‘How do I want to be?’ Then you might ask ‘How do I want others to be?’ Especially your boss! Always remember that people will either live up to your expectations or they will live down to them.
Frank Newberry has been helping people to fulfil their potential in the turfcare sector for over twenty years. If you feel that you need some leadership training, then please consider the highly interactive and down-to-earth Pitchcare Essential Management Skills Course running this autumn. The course is two single days separated by approximately three months. Contact Christine Johnson for more details at the Pitchcare office on 01902 440256 or email her at
chris@pitchcare.com
If you have staff who are not working to their potential, and you think it might help to talk about, it you can contact Frank via the contact tab of his personal website which is
www.franknewberry.com
TWENTY Questions
Ben Arthure - could have quite a bit of dosh spare if he won the lottery - after buying a mower and visiting Oz and the hair clinic!
Who are you? Ben Arthure, assistant groundsman Liberty Stadium and Head Groundsman Swansea Civil Service Cricket Club.
Family Status? Live with my wife Heather and my children Georgie and William.
Who’s your hero and why? Isombard Kingdom Brunel, what an achievement.
What his your dream holiday? Australia. What annoys you the most? Litter and graffiti.
What would you change about yourself? More hair on my head. Who wouldn’t you like to be? Any politician, a thankless job.
Favourite record and why? The Song of the Weather by Flanders and Swann, the words are so true.
Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? My wife Heather.
If you won the lottery what is the first thing you would do? I would buy a new mower for the cricket club, it would make my life so much easier.
If you were to describe yourself as a musical instrument, what would you be and why? A slide trombone - beautiful engineering, loud and sometimes a little overpowering.
What is the best advice you have ever been given? If the job you are doing is hard, then you are probably doing it wrong.
What’s your favourite smell? Honeysuckle.
What do you do in your spare time? Gardening, walking, motoring.
What’s the daftest work related question you have ever been asked? Do you have to cut the plastic in the pitch too?
What is your favourite piece of kit? Our new Toro aerator.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Approachable, honest, team-player (the hyphen saved him. Ed).
What talent would you like to have? Be able to play the piano like Les Dawson. What makes you angry? Disrespect.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? Limit the number of cars on the roads.
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