When someone starts a new job, we usually give them a laminated treasure map: “Here’s the job description, there’s the fridge, don’t microwave fish. Good luck!”We show them around, nod seriously while pointing at the fire exits, and maybe—just maybe—mutter something motivational like, “You’ll get used to it.”

And then we sit back and expect (These are already Loud Expectations):


  • Michelin-starred service,
  • Navy-SEAL resilience,
  • Yoga-guru emotional balance…


From Day 3. Why? Because "we showed them the ropes".

As Managers and owners, we care deeply. We train, we support, we spot potential like Gordon Ramsay spotting a raw scallop. We coach staff, we lead them, we cry in the stockroom when they quit after 3 weeks for ‘personal reasons’. But here’s the real problem…We forget to set the REAL expectations. Not the ones HR emails you with 43 attachments. I mean the human ones. The sneaky, toxic ones that slip under the radar like a passive-aggressive Slack message. Because let’s be honest—when someone’s really ambitious, charming, sharp, and walks fast with a notepad… we often go: "Ah! Future leader!"

What we miss is the invisible behavioral line. The line that separates healthy ambition from Hunger Games office edition.

So, what should we be telling our career-climbing newcomers? Not just, “Here’s the rota and uniform.” We need to plant a few critical commandments right at the start (These are the silent expectations we need to Shout):


  • Don’t learn Management – learn Leadership.
  • Don’t convert healthy competition into a backstabbing contest.
  • Don’t shine your individual achievement – support others and celebrate as a team.


Simple. Clear. Powerful. But ignored? That’s when the real problems start:

Toxic Environment: One bad apple doesn’t just rot—it perfumes the room with paranoia. Trust breaks. Side-eyes increase. Eye rolls become a workplace language.

High Turnover: Good staff start leaving like it’s a fire drill. No one wants to stay where ambition smells like betrayal and every shift feels like an audition for Survivor.

Bad Publicity in the Job Market: “Yeah, don’t work there. The team culture is like The Apprentice… but with fewer biscuits.” Trust me, jobseekers talk. So do Glassdoor reviews.

Manager Burnout: Instead of running a team, you’re now running a crisis intervention unit. Coaching becomes refereeing. You spend more time dealing with drama than performance. The Fix? Say it. Early and clearly. Don’t just show people where the tills and toilets are. Show them the culture. Teach leadership before authority. Collaboration before competition. And integrity before ambition. That's how you build a workplace people don’t just stay in—they thrive in.


  • Lift Others - Don't Trip Them
  • Grow the Us - Not Over Us
  • Be the Kind of Teammate You Would want on Your Team