Do high expectations mean high performance?
I'd love to say YES! But we all know the answer is "not always." Each situation and each person is different of course, so there is no ONE best way to motivate someone to do better. However, I have a suggestion that works well for most people...
I'm going to call it the WIP approach, which essentially says that each of us is both a Beautiful Masterpiece as we are right now, AND we are also a Work in Progress (or Work In Process if you prefer).
The deceptively subtle power behind this approach is that it gives a person permission to not be perfect, to not give up if they're afraid they are not "enough" and to keep striving to meet expectations.
We all need validation or affirmation to know that we're on track with expectations -- or that we at least have the potential to succeed-- in order to rise to the occasion.
Instead of falling into the common trap of thinking we can motivate someone through judgment or shaming, let's experiment with the WIP approach.
Raising your voice, making harsh comparisons, belittling others, or focusing on what's not acceptable may spark a short-term boost in performance, but at what cost?
It will create long-term damage, bitterness, loss of confidence and an erosion of performance over time.
Many people are carrying a subconscious belief that they may never do enough or be enough to measure up to expectations. When we realize that behaviors which cause disappointment often stem from this assumption of unworthiness, we can consider that a different approach might be worth trying.
If we can accept that every person is a work in progress, it opens up more possibilities!
Before scolding someone else (or yourself) when feeling disappointment or worry, pause and reflect on the statement: Every person is already a beautiful masterpiece AND a work in progress.
Consider how to build them up rather than tearing them down.
Will this work for every person or every situation? No. If you haven't addressed other problems, this won't fix them. However, if you're tired of feeling like you have to "yell" to get any results, you're doing something wrong.
The WIP approach allows people to see their own potential, be inspired to move forward without waiting for things to be perfect, and to accept that they are learning and growing as they strive to be better.
Besides, it's more fun cheering someone on than having to always be the bad guy, and it's particularly rewarding when we see our efforts bear sweeter fruit!
Want more inspiration? If you need a framework or guidance on how to achieve success and create work/life harmony, I've got you covered...
