Lack of assertiveness (8)
I believe the answer is:
timidity
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">lack of assertiveness</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this before)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for timidity that I've seen before include "State of being easily alarmed, not bold" , "Faint-heartedness" , "Lack of assertiveness" , "Shyness" , "Fearfulness" .)