Eugene Tee, a psychology lecturer at HELP University, told FMT that low self-esteem in millennials could affect their productivity at work.
“There might not be a direct link between low self-esteem and demotions. However, with the presence of low self-esteem, poor levels of confidence and diminished self-efficacy will slow down the career progression.
“Demotions could be a result of poor performance by individuals originated by low self-esteem,” he said.
Tee’s comments follow a report by The Independent which said a third of youth or millennials suffer from “imposter syndrome” in the workplace.
Imposter syndrome refers to an individual’s belief that he or she is inadequate or incompetent despite evidence to the contrary.
The report was based on a UK study which said the lack of confidence among millennials had resulted in a fear of public presentations and a feeling of intimidation in the presence of more senior colleagues. This in turn could have negative effects on their careers.
Tee, who specialises in emotions in the workplace, said employees with low self-esteem might also have a higher tendency to leave their organisation.
Millennials in particular are apt to do this, especially at the beginning of their careers, he added.
“Millennials may be disheartened when there is a mismatch between opportunities and market factors, aside from job-role demands,” he said.
He told FMT that poor job-role fit and lack of recognition and appreciation might also contribute to diminished self-esteem and low confidence in one’s ability to achieve results in the workplace.
He added that psychological studies provided clear evidence that self-efficacy, or the belief in one’s abilities, is a strong and consistent predictor of work performance.
Meanwhile, Ng Yin Lu, who also lectures at HELP University, said millennials bear the weight of many negative stereotypes and are often blamed for cross-generational conflict in the workplace.
Ng, who is an expert in diversity and engagement issues in Malaysia, said millennials value personal significance and meaning at work.
“They appreciate feedback from the employer and they want to see their impact on the organisation and society as a whole,” she said.
When individuals begin to doubt their abilities and are caught in the vicious cycle of poor performance, this could lead to unhealthy self-fulfilling prophecies, she added.
Similarly, Fauziah Mohd Sa’ad from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris(UPSI) said employees with low self-esteem lacked emotional control over their motivation, which could lead to lower productivity.
“People with low self-esteem constantly have negative thoughts and find it hard to solve a problem, especially when they are given certain labels by their employers,” she told FMT.
Fauziah, who is director of UPSI’s counselling centre, said the issue of low self-esteem could be addressed through counselling sessions, motivational programmes and the individual’s own initiative to change.
Left without proper management, low self-esteem could lead to depression, she added.
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) Geshina Ayu Mat Saat, on the other hand, said low self-esteem develops over time and is rarely a single factor that affects productivity.
“It is likely that it was brought into the work environment rather than as a result of working in toxic work conditions or being surrounded by toxic people,” she said.
Geshina, who is a psychologist and criminologist by training, told FMT that being surrounded by toxic people can cause feelings of low-self esteem although research findings on the issue are not conclusive.
“Normally, low self-esteem is combined with depression, anxiety and feelings of stress. These factors, singularly and combined, affect one’s productivity,” she said.
Afiqah Farieza contribute to this article.