Boss to Coach Conversation 1 of 5 Setting Expectations
Week 1 – Defining Expectations

Introduction to Boss to Coach

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Conversation 1 Setting Expectations
The relationship between a manager and an employee is crucial for business success. Your job satisfaction is closely connected to your boss's competence, and happy employees directly impact customer satisfaction. The challenge lies in not being equipped with the skills to manage effectively.  One of the key strategies is to adopt a coaching approach.

To support this transition, there are three enablers as outlined on Page 4 of your Black Workbook:

  1. THE WHY Manage for Engagement Where to focus, ongoing measurement and active engagement of employees.

  2. THE HOW Leverage Strengths Lead through a strengths-based management approach

  3. THE WHAT From Performance Management to Development The 5 Coaching Conversations that demand and drive increased levels of performance and results.

This learning module talks to third strategy of performance development and specifically the setting expectations conversation. 

Setting expectations helps the team leader and employee understand each other better. It's about making things clear, like what's expected and knowing each person's strengths and needs.

This is one of five modules for each of the Boss to Coach conversations; Setting Expectations, Everyday Feedback, Check In, Development Plan, Progress Review.  See more about Boss to Coach.

These conversations are supported with the CliftonStrengths tool.  This helps to describe the talents, skills and knowledge that are unique to you - the things you do best.  If you can identify and then use your strengths in your job and your life, things are easier, more enjoyable, and effective. Find out more about CliftonStrengths and how they can be used. Find out more about CliftonStrengths and how they can be used

Course Objectives

What are you going to learn?
Recognize why expectations matter. Clearly know and talk about what we expect from ourselves and others. Understand others' expectations too. This helps improve the three key relationships we all have with ourselves, others, and the community/organisation we're part of. See the diagram on Page 3 in your Black Workbook.

There are three steps we will cover

  • Part 1 Defining Expectations What are they and why have them

  • Part 2 WHAT Expectations The priorities of the work

  • Part 3 HOW Expectations Gain awareness and appreciation of how your strengths influence the behaviours that help to deliver the WHAT’s

This is important because…
Having clear expectations at work keeps everyone on the same page, reduces stress, and helps teams work better together. It also makes feedback and personal growth easier, creating a positive environment for the team.

How to use this course

The structure is as follows

  • To have the option to either read the content or COMING SOON Listen to an audio file or both

  • There are videos to Watch to explain concepts

  • There are articles to Read for in-depth explanation of concepts

  • An Activity to apply the learning, completed in your Black Workbook

There are Optional resources for Activity, Read, Watch.  These are not required for each lesson but can be helpful to deepen your understanding.  These are shaded.

To support, use the Workbooks

Each lesson includes insights and actions.  The workbooks will support this.  There are two workbooks that you will need to have open, either electronically or printed

  1. The Black Workbook.  The name is based on the colour of its cover

    a) This is where you will capture all your learnings and is designed to become your manager’s “playbook.”  The online course is designed as the supporting tool to explain the content further

    b) In the footer on each page, there is a reference to the module so you can find the specific lesson and content this relates to.

  2. The White Workbook.  The name is based on the colour of its cover

    This contains insights for your CliftonStrengths Top 5 profile including contributions, motivations, what your strengths love, hate, need

    We will use these insights to populate the activities in your black workbook

Make the time

This course works best when you have undistracted time and are in front of your computer.  You will need one hour a week for the next 5 weeks.  This looks like…

  1. A 45-minute bite sized online learning chunks.  You will also have full access to the course so you can complete in larger blocks and at your own pace  

  2. A 15-minute debrief with your manager/sponsor to share one discovery.  This could be incorporated into your regular 1-1

  3. A once monthly 1-hour group coaching call with Jason Biggs

  4. Applying your learnings in everyday conversations with team 

COMING SOON You'll receive weekly reminders to track your course progress.  Your team leader will also receive these emails to support debrief discussions with them.

Boss to Coach Learning Cycle

Before We Start, Do These Following Actions

  • You will need to know what your Top 5 CliftonStrengths are.  If you do not have a CliftonStrengths profile, please e-mail hello@jasonbiggs.nz

  • Download a copy of your Black Workbook here

  • You should have received via e-mail a copy of your White Workbook for this course. 
    If you have not received a copy, e-mail hello@jasonbiggs.nz

    1. Create calendar appointments for 45-60 minutes every week for the next 4 weeks to complete the course content OR you will have access to all the course content and may choose to work through it in large blocks of time

    2. Create calendar appointments for a 15-minute connect every week for the next 4 weeks with your team leader.

    3. If you have a regular 1-1 check in with your team leader, add an agenda item to discuss what you have learnt from the course

  • COMING SOON  Subscribe to the e-mail reminder programme Enter both yours and your team leader’s e-mail addresses.  You will both be sent a weekly reminder of the programme, the topics covered to support your debrief with them, and to know what stage you should be at.

  • On Page 2 of your Black Workbook write

    1. Your name

    2. Your Top 5 Clifton Strengths Themes

    3. An objective you would like to get from this Boss to Coach Conversation 1 Setting Expectations course

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