We all have roles in every team or situation we belong to. Assessing and knowing your role is an important ingredient with regard to the good work you do and the contribution you make.
For example, I recently attended a family event. Everyone contributed in some way. It was good to have a positive way to contribute and support the event. For the most part, I knew my role in the situation, and that made the event a successful experience for me.
As life changes, so do our roles. One of my sons said to me recently, "We're adults now, we can contribute." This statement acknowledged his changing role in the family. It was a positive acknowledgement.
Sometimes we may get pushback for the roles we assign ourselves. That pushback is a sign that we have to rethink our roles. Perhaps how we define our role is not a good fit for the situation, and we have to make some changes in order to contribute and take part in the event in a positive way.
When others assign us roles we cannot fulfill, it's best to discuss that with the person who has expectations for us. I believe it's better to be honest and upfront in situations like this rather than keep people guessing as to why you're not fulfilling the expectations set. Yet, you may believe that others should not projecting what you should or should not be doing, and choose not to have that discussion. People make varying choices in situations like this.
So today, I'll assess and update my roles in a large number of situations to reflect the many changes at play in my life right now. I love to be part of positive teams, so this analysis and definition are important to me.