I Thought I was Buying a Goat
I recently participated in a networking meeting where we were given the prompt, “I thought I was buying a goat, but I got a sheep.” The exercise encouraged us to reflect on circumstances in which we expected one outcome but ended up with something entirely different. That phrase has lingered with me. It’s a lighthearted way to describe a universal experience: we all, at some point, thought we were buying a goat but ended up with a sheep.
So, what do you do when expectations and reality don’t match?
Figure Out What Happened
Despite our best intentions, sometimes things don’t turn out as expected. The first step is to examine why. This isn’t about blame, it’s about learning. Often, disappointments come from a communication breakdown. Did you clearly express what you needed? Did you check that the other party understood?
In a past role, my boss used what she called the “teach back” method. After giving instructions, she would ask us to repeat what we heard. That simple act often revealed incorrect assumptions or missed details. It’s a great way to create mutual understanding and prevent costly errors.
Another consideration is explaining why something matters. I recently volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. My assignment was to sand the walls and remove dust. It was a tedious, dirty task, and it would have been easy to take shortcuts to get the work done faster. But the site supervisor explained that if dust weren’t removed properly, it would cause imperfections in the paint finish. Suddenly, I could visualize the consequences and took the time needed to do the job well. In business, this same principle can mean the difference between getting the result you want or walking away with a sheep when you wanted a goat.
Take Action to Rectify
Once you understand what went wrong, the next step is addressing the situation. If stakeholders are impacted, communication is key. Don’t delay. Re-establish trust quickly by explaining what happened and how you are correcting it. Transparency and responsiveness can go a long way toward repairing credibility.
Sometimes you need to ask the hard question: Can you return the sheep for a goat? In other words, can the situation be fixed, or must you start over? In business, returning the sheep may come at a financial cost. That’s when you weigh the tradeoffs. Does the cost of correction outweigh the benefit, or must you adjust your original plans and move forward?
Lessons Learned
To avoid holding a sheep instead of a goat, remember to clarify expectations, check for understanding, and explain why the outcome matters in advance. If you still end up with the sheep, then communicate openly with your stakeholders and decide pragmatically whether to fix, replace, or move forward.
Ultimately, these moments aren’t failures; they are opportunities to grow. They remind us that leadership is less about having everything go perfectly and more about how we respond when things don’t.
The next time you think you’re buying a goat and end up with a sheep, pause, learn, communicate, and act. That sheep might be the lesson you needed! Do you want someone to talk you through a misstep? Book a free session via my website. I would love to help you!