So imagine you have been working tirelessly for a couple of years, honing your skills, delivering results, and proving your worth, all on a low salary so you can break into a new career. Finally, an exciting opportunity comes along—a new role with better pay, growth prospects, and the chance to advance your career. Your hard work is paying off, and you are valued.
But just as you are about to seize it, contracts signed, the opportunity is pulled from under you. At the core of the reasons is that someone in your current workplace—a manager, perhaps—has deliberately intervened to keep you where you are.
Sabotage? Absolutely.
This scenario raises important questions about workplace culture and power dynamics:
- What happens when loyalty is prioritised over opportunity?
- How do we deal with the ideals of ‘meritocracy’ with the reality of gatekeeping?
- How can organisations foster trust and fairness when sabotage undermines employee growth?
This kind of experience isn’t hypothetical—it’s a harsh reality. I have seen it happen to many good people, even today. It underscores a disconnect in some workplaces between valuing employees as assets to the business and valuing them as individuals with aspirations. They are not circus animals for corporate amusement.
The impact of such actions goes beyond the individual affected. It erodes trust, demoralises teams, and creates a culture where hard work isn’t rewarded but controlled and micro-managed.
Leaders, managers, and colleagues need to ask themselves:
- Are we supporting the growth of those around us, even if it means letting them move on?
- Are we creating environments where people feel valued and empowered to succeed, not just for the organisation, but for themselves?
Opportunities should be celebrated, not sabotaged. Growth should be encouraged, not stifled. A true leader knows that success isn’t about holding people back—it’s about lifting them up, even when it’s inconvenient.
Let’s work towards building cultures where talent thrives and integrity wins. 💡
What’s your take? Have you experienced or witnessed situations like this? How do we, as a professional community, do better?
#WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #GrowthMindset #CareerDevelopment #TrustInLeadership
