An expectation becomes easier to meet when its owner is willing to name it.

Unspoken expectations put someone in the position of guessing at a standard they will then be measured against. Whoever holds the expectation usually feels it is obvious, which is exactly why it stays unsaid, and the other person discovers where the line was only by crossing it. Naming it in advance costs a moment of awkwardness and saves a disappointment neither of you wanted.

Think of something you are quietly hoping for from a person this week and say it plainly instead. Give the specific version: what, when, how much. On the receiving end, ask what a good result would look like before starting.