Inadequacy: I Can’t, So Leave Me Alone!

Ever know a person who feels like the human version of Eeyore? They assume “I can’t” and refuse to try. Their behavior communicates, “Just leave me alone”. They look and act pathetic. They embody “poor me.” They’re stuck in a pattern of misbehavior called the goal of inadequacy, one of five patterns you can redirect rather than punish or ignore. They act passive, slow, stricken, confused, depressed, helpless, defeated, bored, tired, and without ambition. They underachieve, avoid risks, are surrounded by disorder, and frequently ill, isolated and calamitous. Their deepest need is “Have faith in me. Don’t give up on me!”

When you’re on the receiving end of this goal, you have pervasive, frequent feelings of pity, despair, worry, concern and burden. You think things like “Wow, he needs help” or “What a loser. I give up.” Or “I’m just going to ignore him. He doesn’t even want to try.” You may become annoyed after your initial worry.

Behavior you feel compelled to give is rescue and exemption. You rescue by coaxing, advising, offering incentives to motivate them and generally care-take and enable them. Your speech is careful, apprehensive and indicates your buy-in this person is fragile and needs handholding or protection. You make excuses for them and rationalize their poor results. If you exempt them, you lower your expectations, give them a free pass, show them special consideration or ignore them. You walk on eggshells. You notice you’re more burdened and responsible for their performance or situation than they are. Sound or feel familiar?

I once led a personal growth weekend with a teenage boy in this goal. He had mastered “hang dog” and had enrolled the room (especially the moms) in coming to his rescue whenever he was asked to take responsibility. He was so good at this I had to educate the group on his unconscious but influential use of this mistaken goal, even devising a hand signal to use when people started to rescue and exempt him. It was humorous to witness his mastery and my frequent need to use the signal!

When you rescue or exempt a person in the inadequacy goal, they further retreat into “there’s no use trying.” They act even weaker, more pathetic, less responsible and more passive. They behave as if, “What’s the point?” If you’re reading this thinking “Oh my gosh, I’m dealing with this”, you may wonder, “What can I do?” You can redirect this goal and here’s how:

1. Remember this person is whole and capable no matter how they appear.
2. Avoid your first impulse to coax, care-take and advise. They’re masters at using perplexed, bleak expressions and hesitation to inspire you to offer solutions. Don’t.
3. Transfer responsibility to them, through patient questions. Stating expectations doesn’t mean they’ve picked up responsibility. Ask “How will you figure this out?” or “What will you do?” Outwait them until they answer. Don’t give up. Their goal is to get you to quit and go away. Use sparse encouragement focused on their internal strengths and positive track record.
4. The last step is to lead them to small successes. First, they may become more desperate, ill or calamitous, more passive and stubborn using tactics like anger and intimidation, as if righteously wounded by your persistence. The other is to suggest solutions likely to fail. Don’t fall for either attempt to regain rescue or exemption. Don’t support their setup for gaining evidence to prove their worst fears; that they’re inadequate.