Jennifer, a remote marketing manager, fires off a quick email to her team: 

To Jennifer, this is obvious. ASAP means today. But here’s how her team interprets it:

One vague sentence has now caused stress, confusion, and probably a few extra cups of coffee.

When Expectations Go Missing

Remote work runs on a combination of trust and autonomy. Managers can’t peek over shoulders, so employees get more freedom to do the work in their own way. 

But unclear expectations can derail the accountability / autonomy balance:

• Some people under-deliver: If no one asked, I won’t do it. 

• Others overwork: If no one said it, I need to do more. 

• Everyone ends up anxious, unsure if they’re letting someone down.

• Managers grow frustrated that their team “isn’t delivering what was expected.”

Ambiguity quietly sabotages trust from every angle.

The Fix: Accountability + Clarity = Trust

The solution isn’t complicated. It starts with team members learning to be crystal clear. Here’s how:

1. Be specific about expectations.

Replace ambiguous directives with actual deadlines and details. For example:

• “Jack, please send the draft graphics by Wednesday at 2 PM.”

• “Mira, can you deliver the full launch package by Friday morning?”

2. Create space for regular touchpoints.

Feedback shouldn’t be reserved for annual reviews. Instead, use predictable mini-feedback moments:

• After a client call or project completion

• Quick debriefs at the end of a presentation

The benefit? People know how they’re doing, in real time, without the stress of guessing.

3. Make feedback part of everyday conversation.

When wins and tweaks are part of the daily rhythm, sharing feels safe and easy. Try things like:

• “Gil, I loved the slide deck design—those graphics tied it together beautifully.”

• “Mary, your opening in the presentation was excellent. Point two got a little confusing with the graphs. What if we develop a pie chart to use next time?”

4. Ask for input on your own work.

Modeling healthy communication shows that feedback improves the work and that it’s safe to speak up.

Back to Jennifer

Now, let’s rewind and see what Jennifer could have written:

Notice the difference? No panic. No guessing. Just clarity. And with clarity comes trust, accountability, and confidence.

Because here’s the truth: When you know exactly what’s expected, you don’t waste energy second-guessing yourself or burning out trying to cover every possibility. You get to focus on doing the work that matters, in a way that works for you. 

No gaps. No confusion. Just results that build trust at a distance.