“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”

― Alexander Pope

I think high achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation. So, as such 'over-expectation' is not bad but it may leads to disappointment if our expectation exceeds our capability and hard work.

Our expectations should much our abilities.

The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.

Confucius

"Great expectations," the title of a Dickens novel, usually motivate a young person at the start of his career. Little by little he learns his intellectual and physical limits. The body and the intelligence are programmed for high potential and wither without use. With good teachers and advisors, a youth avoids misdirecting his potential and can minimize the amount of frustration which he will inevitably experience. To avoid taking chances at all, however, is not to live

'over-expectation' is good, while setting up targets in an Industrial set-up

• Stretch ensures that the performance exceeds the success limits
• Sharpens the skills sets of contributing members
• Cutting-edge to the Organization

Depends on the case. Sometimes I'm over-expected to motivate myself, and it is a good motivation. But the problem is, you can hurt your feelings, because if you expect a lot from someone, and this person is not the way that you expect or from a exam that you thought that you have done well, and you didn't, you should be prepared for that. So be over-expected moderately.

Kinds Regards,

Marcelo Negri

Always high expectations is a good strategy and starter to do things effectively. Even at the end if the expectation is not met, the place we landed will be a better approximation to the intended goal than the one which was done with regular expectations. Expectation is a bargaining meter of effective performance of an endeavor. 

I would rather consider having a 'high-expectation' for better performance than a 'lower expectation' for achieving inferior goals.

“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”

― Alexander Pope

'over-expectation' on yourself is good, while it is  bad on others; on others you have to lower your expectations.

I agree that 'over-expectation' on our self is definitely good, while it may or may not be good on others, which depends on their capability and determined hard work to achieve a set goal(s).

It depends on the personality type of a person. It might affect a person positively or negatively.

Positive, motivated, and optimistic people believe in 'over-expectation' and so, they achieve. How one can achieve if not having expectation?

Ajay I think one who works sincerely without expectation is a great and blessed work so it gives more positive results in life.most of the time one who is a great achiever also says that he has not expected it.overexpectation is not always good,it limits the work with expectations.selfless work is the divine work. with selfless work one achieves more.

Dear RG Fellows, We have two different views on 'over-expectation', some believe that  one cannot achieve higher goals without higher expectations, while, others think that with selfless work one can achieve even more. So, different people may have different opinions.

Depends on scientific hypotheses be more realistic from over- expectation

Dear Ajay,

I wonder if selfless work is incompatible with overexpectations. Think of saintliness, and I believe you can find many cases of their compatibility.  Nelson Mandela presents, I think, an extreme case. Mahatma Gandhi may offer another, and Martin Luther King still a third.  A self-motivated hero who is assassinated illustrates selfless overexpectations, because such an individual acts as if he could live forever.

This is an excellent quote, dear Shanker,

I agree that,

“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”

Alexander Pope

Dear Ajay

This question is interesting but still strong can find different opinions. People do not look alike. Some of it is in the same effort they derive their satisfaction

if it does not reach the desired goal. others may be content with the little. These remain so dependent on the efforts of others.

Best regards

FADEL

Dear: Ajay

I suggest you that the realistic expectation is the best one

Yes, I agree that different people may have different opinions, but in general we all should keep our expectations more realistic.

IMHO, there is a difference between "high expectation" and "over expectation". High expectations leads to high achievements. Over expectation is excessive expectation beyond reality and possibilities that often leads to despair

Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality.

Ralph Marston

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fixing-families/201312/5-benefits-having-no-expectations

To Behrouz: I am fully agree that highest expectation is better then over expectation. I endorse it, because it is more realistic and meet our expectation

;)

Lord Krishna's Preaching:

http://www.yogavidya.com/Yoga/BhagavadGita.pdf

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ambigamy/201408/the-secret-happiness-and-compassion-low-expectations

Dear Behrouz and dear Hengky, I think there is a very thin line between 'high expectation' and 'over expectation' and many times it's very difficult to differentiate.

https://www.competitivedge.com/goals-expectations-dos-don%E2%80%99ts

Unrealistic expectations:

http://m1psychology.com/50-shades-twilight-unrealistic-love-expectations/

Happiness = Reality - Expectations

http://customerthink.com/psychology-of-marketing-under-promise-and-over-deliver/

Bhagavad gita quote on expectations

http://www.jstor.org/stable/41054399?seq=2#page_scan_tab_contents

Yes indeed dear Prabhakar, the quote of 'Gita' on 'Karma' (The work) is one of the best quotes ever.

I think higher the expectation higher the achievements and vice versa.

High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.- Charles F Kettering

Dear All,

Great expectations can be positive and useful because can give impetus for a higher performance. However, as Nelson put it earlier, result of such expectations can be frustration. Thus, personnel tolerance is important. Without taking risks one cannot harvest results and mark time.

Dear All,

I think the Pope’ citation (“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” ― Alexander Pope) is the typical manifestation and principle of cautious people. I think this is an extreme and cannot help to discover the world. However, this saying may have various interpretations e.g. to be modest etc.

I agree  that the great expectations can be positive and useful because it can give impetus for a higher performance but the  personnel tolerance is important to avoid any frustration in case of not achieving desired success.

A realistic cautious person is usually not characterized by over-expectation because s/he does not have control over other persons or events. In case there is much lower outcome than what was excessively expected, then the volume of disappointment or frustration will be high. However, if a pleasant outcome was more than what is expected, then there will be immense satisfaction & may be jubilation. 

I agree with dear @Nizar, that a cautious person is generally has a realistic view regarding expectations. But I also think that s/he mainly believes in her/him self rather than controlled by others.

Agree with You!

It may lead to motivation for success and/or failure due to frustration!

Period!

Yes @Tobias, while 'high-expectation' may motivation for achieving big success, it could also cause frustration in case of failures.

Dear All,

Thus, real expectations - without much risks – are for cautious people and great expectations for brave people who find satisfaction in risky businesses and the hope in success may be itself a pleasant feeling. And now we are in the field of psychology...but the outcomes are mostly individual.

The question is, whether real expectations (cautious and small steps with a greater likelihood of the success) or great expectations (courageous and big jumps into the unknown with uncertain but big success) are more valuable for humanity? Of course, this is an unrealistic and very theoretical approach.

Dear: All

According to our discussion, I suggest  you that the expectation is depend on the target of some body mind and performance. It is fine If any body have over expectation  as long as they can accept it and over it relatively easy. But not for some one who has a realistic expectation, who predicted the risk and opportunity. .... ;)  

Dear Andras, I think our risk taking ability determines the quantum of our success and it's generally directly proportional to the higher achievement.

I agree with dear Brenda that too high expectations can be a problem for an individual of specific psychological state, particularly for someone who doesn't  digest the failures.

Dear Hangky,  I think  that the expectations mainly depend on the attitude and the mind and body both work in line with our expectations to achieve a desired result.

One should know himself well enough than any other person, i.e. he or she should know up to what extent he or she can do a job. It will make him or her to expect something up to that extent which will motivate him or her. But the reverse is also true always.

Follow the middle way because extrema cannot guarantee you the success, since you never know the whole of the truth!

It is a relative and perceptual matter whether the expectation is 'Over" or 'Moderate' or 'Low'. It depends on person to person. If you are successful, then every thing is OK otherwise not. But expectation is must.

I think expectation motivates us to do something and to achieve something and many times it's the reflection of our imagination for the future.

I strongly believe that higher the expectation, higher the achievements and vice versa.

Expectation is okay but over expectation is awful. It puts unnecessary pressure on those from whom we expect.

"If you can learn to stop expecting impossible perfection, in yourself and others, you may find the happiness that has always eluded you.” ― Lisa Kleypas

“Expectations were like fine pottery. The harder you held them, the more likely they were to crack.” ― Brandon Sanderson

Dear @Yogesh, I think over expectation, many times, is related with the high capability and self-belief of an individual.

"High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation."

Charles F Kettering quotes

Yes, nice proverb dear @Mohammad.

Ralph Marston said:

"Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality."

However, i believe, concerning others, lower your expectation, so you do't get disappointed.

And believe in yourself, and remember nothing is impossible.

Dear Ajay

Your question is very relative in relation to each of us and this according to his education from his culture and his mind. I think your question will have different answers even divergent. In my case overconfidence is only just a word. For me the mind is the key not only to transcend, but also to gain greater security so more confidence in myself. For example if I have something that I 'believe it (in overconfidence) but for various reasons the target was not reached. I do not discourage me and I try to understand what went wrong in achieving this goal. So patches will be necessary for me to reach. To conclude the important thing is "consistency of everything we do"

Best regards

FADEL

Over expectation should be controlled as it usually end up with frustration. One should work hard and leave it to your faith. 

It is terrible for me to get disappointed so, in advance, I usually have the working "formula" of  "under-expectation". This formula has never let me down in the last 2 decades. In the world of today, over-expectation is an illogical approach since the present human beings are not as good as those who lived e.g. 40-50 years ago. The volume of negativity has increased many folds & there are many conspiracies around each one of us.

Yes, I fully agree with the views of dear Nizar.

Dear Dr Nizar you are right , however, being human sometimes we are carried awy with over expectations.

May be high expectation, but please interprete the term "over-estimation". Over is over, it´s to much and not justified!

Every this with which "Over" is prefixed normally adversely affect. May be it eating, weight, smart, ambitious, power, load, or any thing else where ever it is prefixed, it is not considered good. It is true life goes with expectation and life cannot be there in isolation of expectation, yer over i.e. excess of every thing is bad. So expectation should be normally realistic or may be high but nor excess i.e. over

Without expectations we can not work. But over/unrealistic expectations are not healthy trend. It will not bring results up to marks.

Expectations is part and parcel of one's life though over-expectation may spoil the broth.

Homo proponit, sed Deus disponit.Expectations are connected with success.A human being is not alone, he can't be independent from society. "Success means to catch"Tzvetaiva.  It doesn't matter, if you are intelligent or fool, if success shows you its back. You can't catch the xerox of reforms, you can't predict the problems of your nearest, you can't betray your values in the situation of choice.For.ex, you saved money working hard- default, you supported your friend- betrayal, you won- your victories were used by others, started from scratch- became ill etc.

Expectations are fundamental to great results and success. However result oriented success emerge when expectations are frequently discussed and negotiated between or among the expectators and expectee, in this way, the expectee is on track and knows already ahead of time what is being expected and keep up the drive; this is also in line with over expectations; also expectations should be reveiwed from time to time by the expectators and expectee to continue to produce success, otherwise it can be overwhelming and frustrating....

over-expectation can be frustrating

You should have high expectations for yourself and but try not to have high expectations of people because it just sets you up for disappointment. Sometimes you have high expectations for people because you have high expectations for yourself.

Dear Yogesh,

may I complete:

"Sometimes you have to high expectations for people because you have high expectations for yourself."

Both!

May (de)motivate!

Period!

To expect more from other may be an exaggeration and impossible; whereas to fulfill others expectation more than their bench-marked levels, would make them be more pleased.

Hence in industries we do not venture for customer satisfaction but to DELIGHT them more of their requirement.

Both may be motivate

Dear Ajay: In my opinion, everything in life requires equilibrium and reasonability, including the expectations.

There have been given very interesting and wise answers from most advised and competent peers.

 I think high expectations are good, as far as you know your potential but over-expectations are harmful, since you should be aware of own limits and of the social bias..It may be also good not to put all your eggs in only one basket, to reduce the risk of unbearable frustration in case of failure...

I think 'high-expectation' leads to higher success, if it is associated with the necessary  hard work, otherwise it could cause frustration due to failures.

I think high expectations are good to boost our personal potential, but we have to keep in mind that real working conditions are full of difficults. Hence, after doing our's best, we have to accept also results lower than expected.

'over-expectation' need not always be bad, it could evolve through confidence building such as adept provenability, reliability, success scores, individual and team strength etc.,

I am agree with Dear @Krishnan, some time we need over expectation and I add it with over expectation would becomes a vision... 

Believe in reality and one's efforts! Unrealistic expectations bring pains/sorrows.

I think 'over-expectation' itself is not bad but  if there is a mismatch between one's ability and hard work and expectation to achieve the desired success, it leads to frustration.

Dear Ajay, here is one abstract that's relevant to your question.  It may give us some good ideas too.

'ABSTRACT. The objective of the current study is to analyze the role of professional self-efficacy as a predictor of psychosocial well-being (i.e., burnout and engagement) following the Social Cognitive Theory of Albert Bandura (1997). Structural Equation Modeling was performed in a sample of secondary school teachers (n = 460) and users of Information and Communication Technology (n = 596). Results show empirical support for the predicting role that professional self-efficacy plays in the perception of challenge (i.e., mental overload) and hindrance demands (i.e., role conflict, lack of control, and lack of social support), which are in turn related to burnout (i.e., erosion process) and engagement (i.e., motivational process). Specifically, employees with more professional self-efficacy will perceive more challenge demands and fewer hindrance demands, and this will in turn relate to more engagement and less burnout. A multi-group analysis showed that the research model was invariant across both samples. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.'  (I'm extremely busy with my writing of papers, looking for more review.)

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00223980.2013.876380#.VR1CPfmUdUA

I consider 'over-expectation' a necessary element for higher performance in any field.