E114: What Employees Actually Hear When You Say "Raising Expectations"

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When leaders say they're "raising expectations," teams often hear one thing: work more.

That gap between intent and impact is why so many game dev organizations feel terrible to work at—and why "raise the bar" messages often land as threat, not motivation.

In this solo episode, Ben unpacks the tragedy of perspective between senior leaders who believe they're inspiring change and developers who feel cynical, burned out, or unheard. He explains why experienced seniors are the first to push back on buzzwords, how leadership unintentionally passes pressure downward, and what it actually takes to challenge a team without breaking trust.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to earn the right to challenge your organization
• What teams really hear when leaders use vague language like "excellence"
• Why people matter more than tools, systems, or AI when trust is on the line
• How to sanity-check your messaging

If you're a game dev leader trying to level up performance without burning people out, this episode is for you.

Connect with us:

🔗Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/

🔗BBG's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/

🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/#

🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg

🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw

If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: [e-mail]

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