{ outreach in action } by Paul Roberts, Foundation & Outreach Director


The Expectation Conundrum Balancing what we expect—and what we give.


O


ne of life’s constant challenges is the proper management of expectations. Both the expec- tations set for you by others


and those you establish for others. And then there’s perhaps the most difficult of all emotional gymnastics, dealing with the ex- pectations you set for yourself. How’s all that working for you? Are you elevating to meet or exceed expectations, or do you live with a certain level of disappointment?


The expectation discussion falls into two buckets. They often align with generational differences but not absolutely. You have those in the camp of Walmart founder, Sam Walton, who is quoted as saying, “High expectations are the key to everything.” Similarly, American inventor, Charles Ketter- ing who once served as head of research at General Motors, stated, “High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.” These two leaders were prod- ucts of an American culture that 90 years ago was setting high expectations everywhere from education to innovation. Old timers will remember the audacious thought that we could send a man to the moon. But that high expectation was followed by the memo- rable words, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”


This expectation culture cranked out both excellent dentists as well as patients who kept appointments and paid their bills. Talk about the golden age of dentistry!


But there’s another aspect of expectations. One that swims in a modern culture where entitlement and self-focus are prominent. This side of expectation is voiced by the likes of American psychologist, Barry Schwartz, who says, “The secret to happiness is low expectations.” Or there’s movie star, Ryan Reynolds, who spouts the common mantra,


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alone: advocate for the profession, wrangle with regulators, streamline efficiencies, provide opportunity for growth and, overall, enhance the likelihood of your success. The MDA welcomes those expectations. Our business is to deliver on them. Occasional disappointment comes with the territory, but adaptation quickly follows. Each year you get to evaluate your membership in light of met or unmet expectations.


“When you have expectations, you set your- self up for disappointment.”


It’s only human to have felt the sting of dis- appointment from not fulfilling the expecta- tion of a parent, a teacher, a spouse or some other significant influence in your life. And perhaps it’s even more human to express dis- appointment in those who fail to meet your expectations for them whether it be a child, team member, patient or colleague.


Newsflash: life is often disappointing. That’s why we give each other grace and forgive- ness, and we visit therapists to help us man- age the ebbs and flows of life. But that’s for another column.


With this expectation dichotomy framed, I now want to explore expectations in the light of professional association membership.


Certainly, you have expectations (the buzz word is value) for your annual member- ship investment. Most of those likely evolve around doing what you find difficult to do


But what about the other way around. Should the MDA have any expectations of its members? Have we clearly defined the relationship? What if it’s not me and it’s you? Should our mutual success not require some behavioral expectations beyond the payment? Relationships thrive on mutual en- gagement. Is it too much to expect members to read communications, attend meetings, stay informed, and support related causes?


There is no utopia. Real life is chaotic: packed schedules, needy people, and unique challenges to finances, health, aging, and more. Time and energy are limited for both you, the member, and us, the association. Grace and patience come back into play on both sides of the street.


But doesn’t it behoove us to work together to manage the expectation conundrum? No one wants to join an underperforming, tone-deaf, weak-willed association. And yet a high-achieving, relevant and standard setting association relies on meeting expectations from financial support to volunteer engage- ment. Let’s work together for a bright future because everything you do matters, and what you do next matters most.


Contact Paul at paul@modentalmail. org and subscribe to the weekly MDA Blog he authors at modental.org/blog.


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