Episode: 479

Episode Title: Do You Expect Enough?

Do expectations have an effect on how people perform? What about our expectations for Gen Z? Let’s talk about it, next on The Perna Syndicate.

Ep 479 show:

Hello and welcome to The Perna Syndicate! Today I want us to ask ourselves, what kind of expectations do we have for young people? 

Author Stephen R. Covey writes, “Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be.”

There’s a profound lesson here, especially when it comes to young people. 

In general, we all tend to perform according to the expectations that are placed on us. Low expectations result in low performance, especially for young people. But I’ve found that the more you expect, the more they will deliver, if given the right tools and support.

But we have to actually believe that they’re capable of rising to the occasion. And of course, raising our expectations doesn’t mean cloning them to be exactly like older generations. It means giving them the tools, resources, and freedom to make a difference—whether at home, in the classroom, or on the job. 

So the question really is: do you expect enough of these young people? They can perform to a higher level, if we let them. We can empower them to do it—and it all starts with what we expect. 

On the next episode of The Perna Syndicate, I’ve got a simple phrase that can guide the way we think about young people. It might take some work to adjust our thinking, but it’s well worth the effort. Take care, and we’ll see you then!