When the Hand That Helped Starts to Hold You Back

👩🏽‍💼 By Potential Unlocked | Workplace Conflict Coaching for Women

Let’s be honest, some of the hardest career moments come from people we once looked up to. A mentor. A senior colleague. Someone who supported your growth and believed in your potential.

But what happens when that support starts to shift?

At first, it’s subtle. You’re not looped into the same projects. Feedback feels less helpful and more critical. You start to wonder if you’ve done something wrong or if you’re imagining it altogether.

It’s confusing, especially when you’ve trusted this person. When they helped you rise, how do you speak up now that their hand feels more like a weight than a lift?

If you’ve been here, you’re not alone. And no, you’re not overreacting.

This kind of quiet conflict can be especially hard to name. It doesn’t come with raised voices or obvious sabotage. But it can still stall your growth, shake your confidence, and leave you unsure of your next step.

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Signs Something’s Shifted

• You’re being left out of conversations or opportunities you used to be part of.

  
  

• Their feedback is vague, overly critical, or suddenly inconsistent.

  
  

• You feel like you have to prove yourself all over again, sometimes to the very person who once vouched for you.

  
  

• Your relationship feels tense, but you don’t know how to bring it up without sounding emotional or ungrateful.

  
  

These moments are tricky especially when the person still holds power or influence. But here's what I want you to remember:

You’re allowed to evolve, even if that means outgrowing someone who once guided you.

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How Potential Unlocked Can Help You Move Forward

If this feels familiar, I want you to know there’s a way through it that doesn’t involve conflict or shrinking yourself. With strategic support, you can handle this dynamic with clarity, confidence, and grace.

Here’s how I can help:

We make sense of what’s really happening. You don’t need to carry the weight of uncertainty. I help you map out the dynamic so you can understand where things shifted and why. You’ll see the pattern more clearly and feel more grounded in your response.

We plan what to say (and how to say it). Speaking up can be intimidating, especially

when emotions are involved. I coach you through how to express your needs professionally and directly without sounding reactive or disrespectful.

We build your next circle of support. Your growth shouldn’t depend on one person. I help you explore new mentors, allies, and opportunities so your momentum isn’t tied to a single gatekeeper.

We refocus on your goals, not their approval. You deserve to move forward with confidence. Together, we’ll create a growth plan that’s all about you your strengths, your goals, your leadership. No more waiting for permission.

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You Don’t Have to Stay Small to Be Polite

You can be grateful for the support you once received and recognize when it’s time to step into a new chapter. That doesn’t make you ungrateful or dramatic. It makes you a woman who’s growing and ready to lead on her own terms.

At Potential Unlocked, I support women like you through moments just like this. Moments where confidence wavers, but ambition stays strong. Moments where you know you’re ready for more but the dynamics around you are starting to hold you back.

Let’s create a strategy that clears the path ahead. Because you don’t need to wait for someone else’s green light.

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Want more guidance?

Do the following: 

1. Contact me at info@potentialunlocked.ca to book a free 10-minute consultation call to determine how I can assist you in your career

2. Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter by clicking the link here: Potential Unlocked

Subscribe for career clarity exercises, mindset and motivation tips, and a community of professionals navigating similar changes

I look forward to unlocking your potential with you! 💜

With clarity & strategy,

Nada Johnson,💜

 Certified Career Strategist, Workplace Conflict Resolution Specialist, & Online Empowerment Dating Coach 

 Founder of Potential Unlocked™

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🌍Website: www.potentialunlocked.ca

📩 Contact: info@potentialunlocked.ca

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Looking for Mental Health Counselling?

💙Try Nada Johnson Consulting & Counselling Services

In addition to career planning and online dating coaching, Potential Unlocked offers coaching through our sister brand, Nada Johnson Consulting & Counselling services  designed specifically for women in their 30s, 40's and 50's coping with childhood trauma, low self-esteem, and racism and discrimination. 

Nada support clients with:

• A safe, supportive and confidential space to openly discuss your fears, concerns and challenges

• Guided discussions and self-reflections to gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts, emotions and behavior. We get to the heart of "why you do what you do"

• Improving your communication skills and learning to express your needs more effectively both in the workplace and in personal life

• Providing tools and skills needed to manage stress, cope with difficult emotions and enhance your resilience

👉 Visit www.nadajohnsonservices.com to learn more or book a free 10-minute consultation call.