"Managing expectations. It's a cornerstone to modern-day living. A mantra employed by tech bros and youth soccer coaches alike. A well-intentioned warning that caps hope in order to guard against disappointment. Though I'm not sure what's worse; Training one's self to settle for less or actually being let down? I had a manager back in my table-waiting days who would start every team meeting with a reminder to communicate cook times and bar delays to our guests."
"Sometimes, though, we get so wrapped up in what can't happen that we forget to allow ourselves to ponder what could be. That's what stuck out to me on the heels of my trip to Austin, where I covered the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix for ESPN last weekend. I have been fortunate enough to broadcast from the Vegas and Miami Grand Prix races, but had never attended the Circuit of the Americas."
Managing expectations often functions as protection against disappointment but can also condition people to settle for less. A practical example from restaurant work shows how communicating delays keeps patrons calm and avoids concessions. Travel to Austin for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix prompted reflection on the tension between caution and openness to possibility. Prior experience at other races provided some familiarity, yet unfamiliarity with the Circuit of the Americas and the paddock environment produced nervousness about questions, acceptance by peers, and whether previous experience would earn respect. The experience revealed a struggle between hedging and embracing new opportunities.
Read at ESPN.com
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