#3 When the Role Isn’t What You Signed Up For

You said yes to something that made sense.

The scope was right. The challenge felt good. You could see yourself making a difference.

But now?

You’re three weeks in. Or three months.

And things don’t look like what you agreed to.

Maybe the team is in chaos.

Maybe your scope shrank overnight.

Maybe the problem you came to solve isn’t even on the radar anymore.

And now the quiet panic sets in:

• Did I make a mistake?

• Is this my fault?

• Will leaving too soon make me look flaky?

• Am I just being difficult—or is this actually a red flag?

Let me say this clearly:

You’re not imagining it. And you’re not alone.

This happens way more often than people admit—especially after a re-org or a messy handoff.

It doesn’t mean you made a bad decision.

But it does mean you need to stop and reassess before blindly pushing forward.

Start here:

Ask yourself:

• There were reasons why you took this role, what's still true?

• What’s changed—and is it temporary or structural?

• Are there still problems I care about solving?

• Do I have the backing to shape the work—or am I stuck with it?

If you want to stay, re-fit the role:

1. Clarify what’s needed now that wasn’t before.

2. Ask your manager what outcomes they’re under pressure to deliver.

3. Identify a couple of quick wins that make you visible and useful.

4. Map your new org: Who do you need on-side? What trust needs to be (re)built?

If it's no longer a fit:

• You’ve tested your adaptability.

• You've recognised the misalignment and honoured that feeling.

• And you can plan a pivot on your terms—not in crisis mode.

Sometimes the brave thing isn't sticking it out.

It's stopping. Reassessing. And taking back the wheel.

You don't owe anyone blind loyalty.

But, you do owe yourself clarity.

Been there. More than once.

Know that you're not broken. You're just in a role that needs rethinking.

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