Nobody likes hearing bad feedback. Nobody wants to know they missed expectations. We’d rather hear how great we did or how we blew everyone’s expectations away. But what do you do when the feedback is bad? It can be about you or your job. Either way, its never easy.

I just experienced this first hand. Someone had expectations that I was ultimately in charge of meeting….and they weren’t met. I took a page and a half of notes of the situation and how he felt. I then asked him, if he were in my shoes, how would he resolve the unmet expectations. Some of the circumstances are out of my control. But some of them are in my control.  So what do you do?

1. Don’t deny the unmet expectations. Playing ignorant helps no one. Admit it and move to the next step.
2. Figure out if the expectation can be met and point out the steps you’ll take to meet them.
3. Once steps are identified, own the decision.
4. Implement
5. Follow up. This step is huge, because one of the reasons expectations go unmet is because of lack of communication. Follow up to help build better communication.
6. Reevaluate and learn from your mistake.

Don’t get bitter. Get better.