by Jacinth Klee

Created on: October 04, 2008

What is insecurity? Insecurity is a feeling of general unease or nervousness that may be triggered by perceiving oneself to be unloved, inadequate or worthless, whether in a rational or an irrational manner. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Insecure people lack confidence and belief in themselves. They often feel that they are incompetent to handle life's challenges, and fear their weaknesses being discovered. Insecure people have a fear of being unaccepted or rejected, and strive to win the approval of others.

Most of us generally assume that an insecure person is shy and withdrawn; however, an insecure person could be at the other end of the spectrum arrogant, aggressive or bullying, and could be a control freak!

At work or home, they would probably hide their insecurity beneath bluff and bluster or seek out weaker colleagues to control and dominate. However, if anyone has the audacity to challenge them, you can be very sure they will back down. Deep inside, they are cowards. They employ their aggressiveness or belligerence to cover up most of their inner insecurities.

An insecure worker or colleague can adversely affect productivity and morale; as he or she is driven by fear, envy or self doubts. Insecure people crave for power and control; it gives them a stilted sense of well-being and accomplishment:

* HOARDING INFORMATION

Information represents power, and having access to it equates having power and control over others. Insecure people are unwilling to share information, unless required or instructed to. It gives them a sense of importance; anyone requiring information would have to go through them, or seek their permission.

* RESISTING CHANGES

Changes often represent uncertainty and upset the status quo. Insecure workers fear any deviation from the norm they are familiar with. If they are among the few people in the company who are conversant with the existing systems and processes, they would resist strongly against new or improved systems. Moreover new systems, technologies or processes mean learning all over again it places everyone on a level field. The main concern of the insecure workers is that their peers or subordinates may learn faster, or perform better than them. This would mean that they would have to relinquish control to others, or worse, have their weaknesses uncovered.

* BLAMING OR STEALING CREDIT

Since insecure people constantly fear rejection or disapproval, they are quick to blame others, or shift the problem to someone else. This

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