Where Ideas, Experiences, and Lessons Learned Intersect

Perspective and Expectations Establish Your Starting Point

Posted on May 15, 2020 Updated on August 17, 2026

We may have seen the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now I am seeing more and more articles about the “New Normal” and “Next Normal.” Interestingly enough, I have also been seeing a few articles over the past two weeks about this being an opportunity. Once the fear, uncertainty, and doubt (aka “FUD”) began to diminish, people finally started looking for a silver lining.

Fear is a powerful demotivator, so I find it interesting that some managers and executives use it to help achieve their goals. There may be short-term gains, but the long-term effects can be devastating. In times of chaos (real or perceived), one of the best things a leader can do is be genuine and concerned for their team’s welfare, communicate honestly and promptly, and display confidence to help shift emotions from a negative state to a positive one. Fear holds you and your team back.

What I find interesting is that two months ago, I posted about this unfortunate time being an opportunity – something that led to several negative comments at the time. Three weeks ago, I posted about changes coming as part of the “New Normal.” I believe this is simply insight coming into play, which is one reason why Consultants, great Salespeople, and new Executives can often add immediate value to an organization.

As an aside, diversity of backgrounds, experiences, knowledge, expertise, and opinions leads to various perspectives- fostering creativity. The best team-building practice is finding people whose strengths help cover your weaknesses.

So, perspective and expectations determine where you begin, not where you end. The benefit of a better starting point is that you’re in a much better position to win. The best part is that you can teach yourself to identify different perspectives. You may find it much easier to understand the big picture of whatever problem you face with that new skill.

From time to time, we all face situations we know will suck. Avoidance may be an option, but it usually isn’t the best option. The military has a saying, “Embrace the Suck,” that essentially boils down to “just deal with it.” Focusing on “the gain” (rather than “the suck”), identifying small wins along the way, and visualizing success is part of the process I’ve found helpful for maintaining a positive attitude and an open mind. This simple process helps balance optimism with realism and, most importantly, creates high expectations.

So, what are your thoughts? Do you want to lead or follow? There is nothing wrong with following, especially when contributing to the team’s success. Perspective and Expectations are two tools that can help in any role.