Research Results

Workplace Decision-Making Survey 2025

GAABS’ groundbreaking study of workplace decision-making reveals critical gaps in how professionals approach their most important choices.

Importantly, results point to ways to improve decision-making acumen.

Snapshot of Findings

Experienced professionals self-report data that indicates confusion about how to make high-quality decisions. They report high levels of confidence in their decision-making skills and acumen, yet have received little to no preparation or training to support them.

Read below for a snapshot of what GAABS researchers found.

Confidence vs. Competence

Professionals report remarkable confidence despite minimal training.

91%

Rate themselves as having above average decision-making skills.

85%

Even more have gone without the provision of any formal decision-making training from their employer.

63%

Were not equipped by college or university to make work-related decisions.

Overvaluing Experience

Decision-makers equate experience with acumen with minimal feedback loops.

80%

Attribute their decision-making confidence to experience.

55%

Self-rate as valuing reliable feedback about their decisions.

70%

Of those who expressed lower confidence in their skills, they attributed it to experience over feedback (50%)

Seeking
Input

Inner circles are valued more often than neutral parties or decision-making experts.

8 out of 10

Professionals systematically seek input, advice and counsel on significant decisions from an inner circle, those that they know personally. Only 2 out of 10 individuals seek people with decision-making expertise or neutral parties capable of bringing fresh eyes to the decision at hand.

Professionals Want Support

45%

Indicated that they have NO structured process for important decisions (80% of respondents have 7+ years experience).

85%

Overwhelmingly, survey participants want decision-making training from their current employers.

Support is described as:

Contextual learning
Evidence-based approaches
Ongoing practice
Structural changes

View Results Presentation

As one of the first surveys of its kind, the lead scientists of the Decision-Making in the Workplace Survey provided an early look at emerging study outcomes for participants of the GAABS Gather Conference 2025. Watch the video below to benefit from the context that they provide as background for the survey.

Video Highlights

(02:20) Survey Background and Participant Snapshot
(05:08) Decision-making Challenges People Face
(08:49) Where Professionals Would Like Help
(12:56) How Decision-Makers Can Obtain Support
(18:31) Experience and Decision-Making Confidence
(23:18) Decision-Making Training and Confidence
(27:03) Recognition of the Need for Training
(29:30) What Professionals Want and Need from Training
(37:45) Q&A - Using Someone Without Any Context
(41:10) Q&A - Utility of a “Judge” Function to Mitigate Bias
(45:05) Q&A - This Survey Adds to Extant Knowledge

Scientific Leadership

Melina Moleskis, PhD, MBA

Member, GAABS Executive Board
Lead, GAABS Research Board
Research Lead, GAABS Decision-Making Survey 2025
Founder, Meta-decisions
LinkedIn
Umar Taj, PhD

Researcher, GAABS Decision-Making Survey 2025
Assoc. Professor of Behavioural Scence, U of Warwick
Fellow of Behavioural Decision Science at LSE
CoFounder, CogCo
LinkedIn
Sheheryar Banuri, PhD

Researcher, GAABS Decision-Making Survey
Deputy Head, University of East Anglia
Author, Decisive Mind

LinkedIn

GAABS Call to Action

TAKE THE SURVEY

It’s not too late.
Take the 15-minute survey and add your lived professional experience to GAABS’ knowledge base.

New results to be released in the Spring.

UNDERSTAND YOUR ORG

Run this study in your organization. We’ll help.

Email Info@GAABS.org

CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUTURE

Contributions from members in good standing are welcomed.

Email info@GAABS.org to join this work effort.