#AskAdaMarie: How do I expand my scope without neglecting the responsibilities I already have?
“I’ve gotten really good at my core role, but I feel boxed in. How do I expand my scope without neglecting the responsibilities I already have?”
Dear Friend,
There’s a specific kind of tension that shows up when you’ve become really good at your role.
On one hand, you’ve built trust. You know what you’re doing. People rely on you. On the other, you start to feel it—that quiet sense that you’re capable of more, but not quite sure how to access it without dropping something important. That feeling is a signal.
It usually means you’ve reached the edge of what your current role can teach you in its current form. Not that you’ve outgrown the job entirely, but that you’re ready to expand how you show up within it. The goal isn’t to do more work. It’s to do different work, more intentionally.
Here are a few ways to approach that without neglecting what’s already on your plate:
1. Protect your baseline before you expand beyond it
Expansion only works if your core responsibilities stay strong. That doesn’t mean overextending yourself—it means getting clear on what actually needs your attention versus what you’ve just gotten used to doing.
Where can you streamline?
What can be systematized?
What doesn’t need your level of involvement anymore?
Creating space is the first step to using it well.
2. Look for proximity, not permission
You don’t always need a formal title change to expand your scope. Start by getting closer to the work you’re curious about. Join a meeting. Offer to support a project. Ask thoughtful questions about how decisions are made.
Expansion often starts with visibility and proximity, not a formal “yes.”
3. Anchor your expansion to business value
The fastest way to grow your scope is to connect it to something that matters beyond you. Instead of saying, “I want to try something new,” frame it as, “I’ve noticed an opportunity here…”
Where are there gaps?
Where is the team stuck?
Where could your skills create a better outcome?
When expansion is tied to impact, it becomes easier for others to support it.
4. Start small and make it repeatable
You don’t need a full role redesign overnight. Take on one project. Own one initiative. Test one new way of contributing. Then pay attention: What worked? What didn’t? What did you enjoy?
Expansion is a series of small, intentional moves.
5. Let your manager in on the direction
Sometimes we wait until we’re overwhelmed to have this conversation. Try shifting it earlier. Let them know you’re feeling ready to stretch. Share what you’re interested in, and ask where that might align with team needs. This isn’t about asking for more work—it’s about aligning your growth with the direction of the team.
One thing I want to leave you with:
You’re not boxed in because you’re limited. You’re boxed in because you’ve become reliable. And reliability is powerful, but it’s not the full story of what you’re capable of. Your next step is to build on top of it, thoughtfully. Start showing a different dimension of what you can do.
You’ve already done the hard part. Now it’s about expanding it.
With you,
AdaMarie 💚
