Life is relative and our expectations play a huge role in that relativity. If you decide to eat at a restaurant because you were told that that it’s the greatest Italian food you will ever have, it’s easy to be disappointed. If you walk into that same restaurant after being told that you shouldn’t expect much, it’s easy to be impressed.

If you tell your boss 30 minutes ahead of time that you’re going to be 10 minutes late to a meeting, he or she might be a little ticked off, but won’t be excessively mad. If you tell your boss that you’re going to be 10 minutes late, right as the meeting is starting, you can bet that he/she will be much more upset.

Understand the importance of managing the expectations of everyone around you. Don’t rely on them to properly set their own expectations. It’s not that they are incapable. Rather, as a leader, it is your job to make sure that expectations are properly set.

By developing an intuitive sense of your own expectations and the expectations of others (yes, it can be learned through practice) and managing them accordingly, you will find yourself happier and a stronger leader.