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What Clear, and Unclear, Expectations Do to the Brain

Aug 14, 2026

And why leaders should pay attention to the impact on motivation and performance

The impact of unmet expectations may be more connected to performance, energy, and engagement than we realize.

We all have expectations.

Expectations about our work.
Expectations about our leaders.
Expectations about the people we lead.
Expectations about what will happen when we put in effort, take initiative, ask for help, or deliver results.
Expectations of ourselves.

An expectation is simply something we believe will happen in the future.

But expectations are not passive thoughts.

Our brains are constantly using them to predict what comes next.

THE NEUROSCIENCE OF EXPECTATIONS

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What Clear, and Unclear, Expectations Do to the Brain

THE NEUROSCIENCE OF EXPECTATIONS

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