I was excited to be promoted this year. I worked very hard and made great relationships across functions. I imagined I would get more meaningful projects and have more impact. Instead, the experience has been terrible. I spend the days walking on eggshells amongst very territorial peers and figuring out how to simultaneously be visible and invisible. Three org changes and I'm now reporting to a peer because my real manager assigned him to manage me, which was allowed by HR. The previous leaders I admired and wanted to work with are all gone. Don't even know what to do. Anyone else have a similar situation? I'm worried my skills are declining and I'll end the year with nothing to show for my first year as a director and get riffed anyway.
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This entire org is a joke. Can't wait to leave.
@e2 Engineering and worked up to project director. Let go of the that and related access but haven't had a project to direct. Everyone holding tight to projects so not really working with anyone else. And like I said many of my previous managers and mentors and advocates gone. Plus another reorg seems to be on the way (RDA).
@OP What "skills" are declining?
I've heard this from others who got up to an IC, director-level/director-titled role. Seems common.
Update your resume because you can see where you stand in the pecking order. A director reporting to a director - perfect rif target.
Just lie or embellish what you did in 2026, all the other leaders do. You’re overthinking it.
And as a Bonus you can come to the office 3 days a week! Maybe take some of that unlimited PTO and think about making the most of your situation. Maybe you can find the silver lining
Unfortunately you must not have picked up on all the clues. You said this is your first year as a director, so you must have been a manager prior and you didn't see the games. So you are supposed to report to a VP but instead you are a director reporting to another director. Wow - I don't know if you will get riffed, but this was no promotion. Sorry - you are a chair filler, and will likely be doing the work of your new "manager" without even realizing it, since you won't know better, along with your own.