She met deadlines, achieved targets, avoided mistakes, but got no appreciation. One question to her boss showed what she was doing wrong. ‘I traded excellence for survival.’

Oftentimes, when professionals join a new company, they are overcome by feelings of ‘Am I good enough?’. In response to this thought, they go into overdrive trying to prove their worth, volunteering for extra assignments, staying late, replying to emails instantly, being punctual in meetings, coming up with new ideas and seeking feedback from managers and peers. But over time, the enthusiasm slowly fades once professionals get the hang of their tasks and start treating their job like a job. But such a mindset can hamper growth, as shared by web developer and human resource professional Sadhna Sahu.

Boss does not praise employee

In her latest X-post, Sadhna Sahu recounted a story that sheds light on personal growth in the workplace and how being in the comfort zone for too long can hinder the process. Sadhna, in her elaborate write-up, talked about a powerful professional wake-up call that came from a candid conversation with her boss.


According to Sadhna, she noticed that her boss stopped praising her work for several months, prompting her to directly ask for the reason. Instead of criticism or confrontation, her boss calmly explained that while she was meeting expectations, she was no longer performing at her highest potential. He pointed out that she had shifted from striving for excellence to merely doing the minimum required to avoid failure.

Silent damage of comfort zone

This response deeply impacted Sadhna, who realised that although she continued meeting deadlines, achieving targets, and avoiding major mistakes, she had unknowingly become too comfortable in her role. The drive that once pushed her to offer innovative ideas, actively seek feedback, and go beyond expectations had gradually been replaced by a basic ‘just get it done’ mentality.


Reflecting on this experience, Sadhna emphasised that personal and professional stagnation can often be more dangerous than outright failure. For her, the absence of criticism was not necessarily a sign of success, but rather an indication that others may have stopped expecting growth or exceptional performance. She explained that this realisation reshaped her perspective on career development.

Key takeaway from the post

Rather than seeking validation simply for meeting baseline expectations, Sadhna expressed a desire to work in environments that continuously challenge her capabilities and push her toward improvement. The HR professional described her boss’s honest feedback as something more valuable than praise aka a mirror that forced her to confront her own complacency.


Since that pivotal moment, Sadhna shared that she has adopted a new daily mindset, consistently questioning whether she is simply delivering results or actively growing. Her story has resonated widely online, serving as a reminder that true career advancement often begins when individuals step beyond comfort and recommit to continuous self-improvement.