Are you mad at yourself for making a mistake at work? Are you hesitant to take on another project lest you make the same mistake again? Do you feel that you are not as competent as your employer seems to think you are?
Everybody has feelings of self-doubt at some point in their career, but it can become a problem if a lack of confidence persistently prevents you from taking on challenges or moving out of your comfort zone.
This article explains what insecurity at work looks like and why it can be devastating to your career if not controlled. We suggest ways to understand the causes of your insecurity, manage it, and how to use it to your advantage.
Feeling insecure at work? You’re not alone. Many professionals grapple with doubts about their abilities and value in the office. While some insecurity is normal when facing new challenges, ongoing self-doubt can harm your performance and progression.
Fortunately, you can take steps to overcome workplace insecurities. Doing so empowers you to view yourself accurately, speak up, and maximize your potential.
What Are Workplace Insecurities?
Insecurities are feelings of uncertainty about your worth or abilities. At work, common insecurities include:
- Doubting your qualifications for a job or promotion
- Fearing failure on important projects
- Worrying you lack the skills to complete tasks
- Comparing yourself negatively to colleagues
- Believing you don’t deserve your role or salary
- Fearing looking incompetent to coworkers or leadership
Insecurity often stems from low self-confidence and self-esteem. Past failures or criticism can also spark self-doubt. Imposter syndrome, or feeling like a fraud despite evidence of competence, fuels workplace insecurity too.
Insecurity has consequences. It may hold you back from pursuing opportunities, speaking up in meetings, taking credit for achievements, and building connections This hinders both your professional and personal growth
What Causes Workplace Insecurity?
Several factors can spur insecure mindsets:
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Harsh feedback from a manager Critical comments on your performance can shatter confidence You may replay criticisms in your head and believe you’re inadequate
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Not getting a desired promotion Being passed up for a coveted promotion suggests leadership doesn’t see your full potential You may question your abilities or value to the company.
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Challenging assignments: Projects that stretch your skills can stoke fears of failure, especially if you lack guidance or support.
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Unclear expectations: When job duties and goals seem vague, you may constantly second-guess yourself. Without clarity, you don’t know what success looks like.
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Toxic work cultures: Environments where competition is cutthroat or collaboration is scarce breed insecurity. You may fear looking foolish or being cast out of social circles.
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Lack of positive feedback: Seldom receiving praise or rewards for achievements can make you undervalue your contributions.
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Comparing yourself to others: Viewing colleagues as more competent, successful, or valued can damage confidence.
8 Ways to Overcome Workplace Insecurity
If you feel plagued by self-doubt at work, these tactics can help:
1. Identify triggers.
Reflect on when insecurity strikes. Does a certain colleague trigger comparison? Do big meetings make you second-guess your knowledge? Pinpointing patterns helps you anticipate and manage insecure thinking.
2. Challenge inner critic thoughts.
The voice inside your head may spout irrational doubts like, “I’m totally unqualified for my job.” Treat this inner critic as you would a worried friend. Ask for evidence and talk back to negative assumptions.
3. Celebrate small wins.
Highlight accomplishments like completing a task efficiently, making a process improvement, or receiving positive feedback. Small wins build confidence to take on bigger challenges.
4. Seek support.
Turn to encouraging managers, mentors, and friends who bolster your self-worth. Their belief in you can drown out inner critic whispers. Confiding in a workplace coach also provides nonjudgmental guidance.
5. Prep for projects that trigger doubt.
If certain assignments spark insecurity, overprepare. Thoroughly research the topic and practice presenting. Taking control eases anxiety and builds know-how.
6. Remember past successes.
When doubting your abilities, recall previous wins, whether an award-winning campaign or successful product launch. You’ve conquered challenges before and can do so again.
7. Set realistic goals.
Stretch goals breed frustration while easily achievable ones don’t build confidence. Define specific, moderate goals with measurable steps. Meeting them proves your competence.
8. Limit social media use at work.
Scrolling through colleagues’ curated career success online fuels comparison. Stick to professional development and networking during work hours.
How Leaders Can Combat Team Insecurities
Managers play a pivotal role in fostering secure, confident teams. Consider these tips:
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Offer ongoing praise. Recognize contributions big and small. Highlight strengths during one-on-ones.
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Give constructive feedback. Frame criticism as needed for growth. Balance critical points with positives.
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Clarify expectations. Provide detailed goals and explain path to success. Check for understanding.
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Suggest learning opportunities. Encourage team development through courses, conferences, and stretch assignments.
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Model vulnerability. Share your own missteps, doubts, and growth. This makes it safer for others to open up.
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Build bonds. Facilitate team building and social events. Strong relationships boost comfort and collaboration.
The Takeaway
Workplace insecurity is common but conquerable. Being aware of your triggers, reframing thoughts, seeking support, and celebrating small victories can restore professional confidence. Leaders also play a pivotal role in helping teams feel valued through feedback, development, and relationship building.
Banishing self-doubt enables you to view yourself accurately, pursue opportunities, and fully shine at work. You deserve to feel capable in your role and excited about future growth.
Focus on the Goal, Not You
Just as a tennis player must focus on the ball and not their own body movements, stop focusing on yourself and look at the bigger picture. Think of how your work benefits your teammates, the company, and its clients. Think of how managing your insecurities will lead to new opportunities.
It will take time to learn new skills and build confidence. Give yourself the latitude to fail, just keep taking one step at a time to reach each new goal. Take your time, and celebrate each achievement. Continue to gradually move out of your comfort zone by taking on new initiatives, and then return to your comfort zone to process what you have achieved. Do this repeatedly and, slowly, your insecurity will diminish.
An insecure person can feel more confident if they ask for advice. Find a mentor at work who you can go to when you need help. That will give you confidence in your decisions. Learn to speak up for yourself and to be assertive. Ask your manager for feedback on your performance and find out what areas you need to work on. Don’t be afraid to hear constructive criticism because that’s how you will advance.
Common workplace insecurities can center around job insecurity, salary, and promotions. Ask your manager to address your concerns, particularly during performance reviews. Gain clarity, and you will have a better idea of what steps to take to achieve the next promotion or pay raise.
How to Identify the Cause of Your Insecurity
Some introspection is required to identify the causes of your insecurity. If you have significant trauma in your past, you might find professional counseling helpful. That said, even something as simple as being passed over for promotion can be damaging to your self-esteem and undermine your confidence.
Research shows that up to 40 percent of our happiness depends on our recent life events, so think about what could have triggered insecure feelings. It could be an upset with a friend or a family member or a disappointing performance appraisal.
If you are finding it difficult to figure out what is causing your anxiety, lack of self-confidence, or feelings of insecurity, consider consulting a career coach who can help you work through career-related issues and offer an independent perspective.
How to Deal with Insecurities? | Sadhguru
Do you feel insecure in the workplace if you work hard?
You may feel insecure in the workplace if you work hard without receiving recognition for your efforts. If this happens, there are ways you can show your team or manager you’d like to get more recognition. Model the behavior you want others to show you by recognizing teammates for their own hard work.
How do you deal with insecurity at work?
There are still ways, however, that you can resolve this insecurity. Be proactive about learning new skills and techniques to show employers you’re committed to your job. Volunteer for new assignments and offer to help colleagues with their work to demonstrate your value to the team.
How can I overcome insecurity?
Here are 10 tips to help you mitigate and overcome insecurity: 1. Confront your feelings Instead of holding onto negative feelings about yourself or letting an experience, like criticism, damage your confidence, unpack what’s going through your head. An excellent place to do this is in therapy.
Are your workplace insecurities setting you back?
That’s because everyone is looking to improve somehow, and in that respect, insecurities can be useful in motivating us to grow. But, when your self-doubt is setting you back instead of contributing to your progress, that’s when things need to change. Here are nine common workplace insecurities, and how to approach them accordingly.
