In the pursuit of excellence, leaders often emphasize the importance of setting ambitious goals. However, a critical distinction exists between ‘standards’ and ‘expectations,’ and understanding this difference is pivotal for achieving desired outcomes. While high expectations outline our aspirations, it is the establishment of high standards that provides the concrete framework necessary to realize these ambitions.​

Defining Standards and Expectations

Standards refer to the established benchmarks of performance and behavior that are deemed acceptable within an organization or relationship. They represent the minimum level of quality and serve as a foundation for consistent performance. In contrast, expectations are the anticipated outcomes or levels of performance that individuals or organizations aspire to achieve. While expectations set the vision, standards delineate the path to reach that vision. Without robust standards, high expectations may remain unfulfilled aspirations.​

The Consequences of High Expectations Coupled with Low Standards

When organizations or individuals maintain high expectations without corresponding high standards, they often encounter confusion, disappointment, and subpar outcomes. This misalignment can lead to a disconnect between desired results and actual performance, as there is no clear framework to guide actions toward achieving the set expectations.​

Case Studies Illustrating the Impact of Standards and Expectations

• Corporate America: The Perils of Misaligned Standards
  
• In the corporate realm, leaders may set ambitious revenue targets (high expectations) but fail to establish clear operational processes or quality controls (low standards). This misalignment can result in inconsistent product quality, customer dissatisfaction, and ultimately, failure to meet financial goals. For instance, a study published in the Harvard Business Review highlights that perfectionistic leaders often don’t communicate their high standards until others miss their expectations, leading to a cycle of disappointment and under performance (Friedman, 2019).
  
  
• Public Education: The ‘Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations’
  
• In educational settings, when teachers hold low standards for student performance but expect high achievement, students are deprived of the necessary support and challenges to excel. This phenomenon, referred to as the “soft bigotry of low expectations,” suggests that merely expecting students to perform well without providing rigorous standards and support structures can hinder their academic growth (Petrilli, 2022).
  
  
• Personal Relationships: Unrealistic Expectations Without Clear Standards
  
• In personal relationships, individuals may harbor high expectations of their partners without establishing clear standards for communication and behavior. This can lead to unmet needs and dissatisfaction. Research indicates that unmet romantic expectations based on idealized standards are associated with lower relationship satisfaction and commitment (Weigel et al., 2017).
  
  

The Imperative for Leaders

For C-level executives and managers, the synthesis of high standards and high expectations is crucial. Leaders must not only articulate ambitious goals but also implement clear, measurable standards that guide their teams toward achieving these objectives. This alignment ensures that expectations are grounded in actionable pathways, fostering an environment where excellence is not just aspired to but systematically pursued.​

Conclusion

The balance between standards and expectations is a cornerstone of success across various domains. High expectations set the destination, but high standards pave the road to get there. Leaders who recognize and act on this interplay position their organizations and relationships to move beyond mediocrity toward sustained excellence.​

References

Friedman, R. (2019). Are Your High Expectations Hurting Your Team? Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2019/01/are-your-high-expectations-hurting-your-team

Petrilli, M. J. (2022). Teachers Should Replace “the Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations” with “the Suspension of Disbelief.” Education Next. Retrieved from https://www.educationnext.org/teachers-should-replace-the-soft-bigotry-of-low-expectations-with-the-suspension-of-disbelief/

Weigel, D. J., Davis, B. A., & Woodard, K. (2017). Examining Unmet Romantic Expectations and Dating Relationship Outcomes. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 34(6), 855–871. Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0265407517703492