One of the fastest ways to damage any relationship—professional or personal—is to hold people accountable to expectations they didn’t know they were supposed to meet.
Whether it’s between a leader and an assistant, a client and a contractor, or a spouse and a partner…
Unexpressed expectations always lead to unmet expectations.
And unmet expectations create frustration, misalignment, and eventually—distance.
The truth is, most of us don’t mean to be unclear.
We just assume the other person “should know.”
Or we’re too busy to slow down and articulate what we actually want.
Or we avoid saying it out loud because it might feel awkward.
But if you want a healthy, thriving working relationship (and a healthy life)… you’ve got to say the quiet part out loud.
Here’s the fix:
- Get honest with yourself — What are you expecting from this person?
- Say it early — Don’t wait for them to mess up before clarifying.
- Say it clearly — Use specific language, not vague hopes.
- Invite them in — Ask for feedback, confirmation, and shared understanding.
If you do this well, you’ll eliminate 80% of the stress that comes from working with people. And you’ll unlock better results—not because everyone’s perfect, but because everyone’s aligned.
So this week’s challenge:
Where have you been hoping someone would “just know”?
- Write it down.
- Say it out loud.
- Start the conversation.
Because clarity is kindness. And unspoken expectations help no one.
Micah Foster, Co-Owner
Micah Foster is a partner at Dream Support LLC who has been providing remote executive assistants to busy leaders who need administrative and organizational help for over five years.
He has a passion for creating and maintaining positive and productive work environments and empowering people to reach their full potential.