May 11, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes)

The Brisket Was Smokin’
—The Expectations?
Not So Much

It started with good intentions to celebrate the team achieving a meaningful milestone.

“Hey everyone—let’s do a Friday BBQ to celebrate the big win! I’ve got the food. –Rick”

Rick, our fearless (and sometimes too enthusiastic) team leader, had visions of celebrating the team with pulled pork, team bonding, and good vibes. What he didn’t have?

• A budget
• A schedule
• A location
• Any idea who was actually invited

By Wednesday, 47 pounds of brisket, three gallons of mango-habanero glaze, and a rented smoker the size of a small SUV were en route.

Accounting was confused. Facilities was furious. And the team? Well… no one knew if they were supposed to bring sides, show up at noon, or clock out early. One intern thought it was a potluck and brought Doritos.

The real kicker? Rick’s celebratory BBQ ended up reseeding the freshly sodded lawn, torching the department’s Q2 morale budget, and creating the most confusing lunch break in company history.

But instead of face-palming, the leadership team turned it into a learning opportunity.

At the debrief, someone wrote three big questions on the whiteboard:

• What exactly needs to happen?
• Where will it show up?
• When is it due?

Then came the clincher: “Can someone repeat that back to me?”

Laughter. Head nods. Lightbulbs.

Rick grinned and said, “Okay. Before I BBQ another budget, let’s make sure we all understand what’s actually happening.”

And just like that, a chaotic misfire turned into a leadership win.

Moral of the Story? 

Great leaders don’t assume clarity. They confirm it. Setting expectations doesn’t stifle bold ideas—it gives them legs. It turns a “Let’s do this” into a win that actually lands.

And that’s what we’re unpacking in next week’s Lead to Win Coaching Video—the Setting Expectations Tool.

Coming Next Week:

• Our free newsletter will coach you on a 3-question process to clarify expectations.
• You can access a coaching video on setting expectations with Mike and Mr C.  
• Plus, get the downloadable tool and coaching notes to use with your team.

So, we hope you enjoyed the story today. Come back next week to get the clarity you need to lead like a pro.

Until then, remember:

Clarity is Kindness. Brisket is Optional.
Lead to Win!

Lead from your heart. Lead to Win.

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