Self Confidence

Are you constantly competing with the furniture to be inconspicuous around the office?

Does the thought of a presentation give you palpitations?

Then what you might be suffering from is a lack of self-esteem. It is a trait that can seriously hamper your growth, even if you have the intelligence to teach Einstein a thing or two about E=MC2 and the skill to show Bill Gates how to secure Internet Explorer.

Here's the lowdown on this problem that plagues many professionals, its identification, consequences and correction.

Identifying the problem

According to Colonel Ravi Joshi, a personality development trainer at the Indo-American Society, there are various signs that indicate a low self-esteem.

"Physical signs include poor body language and posture, guilty or apologetic expressions, a weak handshake, slow movement and low levels of energy, among several others," he says.

Behavioural signs include reluctance to call attention to oneself, to engage in a conversation, or to accept a change.

"Low self-worth individuals also avoid taking risks and perceive risks that other people fail to see. They usually lack goals and have a negative attitude," Joshi adds.

Emotional signs include being paranoid about becoming the object of ridicule. Or about having a sense of dependence on other people. Or constantly comparing oneself with others. Or doubting one's talent.

Sometimes, even seemingly smart people, with an air of confidence about them, can also have self-esteem issues. While some hide the problem well, others, especially those in high corporate positions, try to cover their lack of self-worth by being domineering and trying to act overconfident and superior.

"Such people make overbearing, untrusting and suspicious bosses and colleagues, who come across as obsessive control freaks," says Joshi.

If you have any of the above sides to your personality, it's time to give your self-esteem a much-needed shot in the arm before the consequences catch up...