Short thought today - but a meaningful one.  If you're in the depths of depression regarding the expectations on you or your team and don't think the expectations are fair, ask yourself the following question:

"Are the expectations on me or my team related to delivering quality, speed and affordability, or two out of the three factors?"

It's the classic project management triangle of constraints.  You can have it good and cheap (which means it will take longer/be slow), good and fast (which means it won't be cheap) or cheap and fast (which means it won't be as good as other projects/'performance/results).

Some proposed related examples from the real world:

• College: Work, Sleep, Play – Pick two.
• Men: Handsome, High-Earner, Faithful – Pick two.
• Women: Single, Sane, Sexy, Smart – Pick any three. (also called The four S's of dating)
• Operating System: Fast, Efficient, Stable - Choose two.
• Bicycle Parts: Strong, Light, Cheap - Pick any two.
• Opensource Software Development: Speed/Time, Inclusiveness/Openness, Quality
• Schedule, Scope, Resources – Pick two.
• Nation's populace: Ignorant, Free, Civil - Pick two

So, if you think you're being held to unrealistic expectations at work, break down your triangle to see if you're being held accountable for quality, speed and affordability.

If you're being held accountable for two out of three: shut up and deliver. If you're being held accountable for all three, you've got a choice: either be a victim or re-frame the expectations by engaging who you work for. WARNING: Expectations may be evaluated differently by different humans.  Wear a helmet.

PS: Hit me with your triangle examples from the real world while you're at it...