3.What communication style fits you? It is extremely important to know this for several reasons. Some people communicate better in writing. Others do best with using bottom-line, verbal communication. Still more are “talkers” who need to fully discuss every aspect of a plan before it is implemented. Once you know your communication style, and styles of those you work with, communication of expectations will be both better received and conveyed.

4.Seek feedback. As you realize by now, dealing with expectations is like dealing with perceptions, so best way for you to learn how other people see your behaviors is to ask for regular feedback. Do not hesitate to ask what people expect from you. While you don’t need to agree with them necessarily, you do need to be clear on what is expected of you in order to accomplish your goals.

5.Align expectations with your values. Values define what you stand for. Values act as your internal compass, keeping you happy at work and in your personal life. Obviously, more aligned you are with your values (and your professional goals) smoother your life will be. With that said, it is advisable to check from time to time that our expectations are indeed aligned with core of who we are. If you value freedom and entrepreneurship in your professional life, don’t seek positions that would land you in an environment opposite to you true values. Don’t get stuck trying to live up to expectations that do not match with your personal values. Managing expectations - yours and those of others - is an important part of our every day life. A merger with another company, a new boss, a sudden change at home, new coworkers… all of these are circumstances where people expect things from you. Understanding most effective ways to communicate your expectations, and to understand those of others, is best solution for overall team success in any organization.

A boss who hires a friend or relative is also guilty of a conflict of interest - in fact, boss will find this conflict will only get worse as time goes on. No matter circumstances, employees will never respect boss who performed this hiring or employee who was hired. In this instance, even if there is no conflict of interest, appearance is so strong that it cannot be overcome.

I remember at one job boss (and owner) hired his wife as secretary for company. She was soon promoted to a vice president. This cause no end of problems at our company. Several other competent people were passed over for promotion, which created a huge amount of bad feelings among staff. Every decision that she made was questioned, and after that no one really trusted owner anymore. In this case problem was not that she was hired or even promoted - problem as that boss promoted his own wife. If she had earned her way up and been promoted (or not) by other managers based upon her merit, then conflict could have been avoided.

I've seen people in situation where they had to make a decision and took into account "what was best for their career" or made decision that would give them best raise or bonus. There is nothing wrong with pursuing a career or working towards better pay, but decisions must be made which are best for company and which are ethical. Period. Thus, if there is a choice between a good decision for my company or a good decision for my career, then company wins every time. And in long term, this is best decision for any career.

Good employees and good managers avoid situations like these as if their lives depended on it. A conflict of interest, apparent or otherwise, is never a good thing. Decisions must be made based upon facts and must be made to advantage of company to which you work for (and owe your allegiance). The most ethical thing to do is to make decisions which fulfill goals of company, and not which fulfill your own personal agenda.