Last Updated on:
A major new study from Attensi, the global leader in game-based learning and skills development, has uncovered a growing workplace challenge: “skill masking” — where employees deliberately conceal their knowledge gaps to project competence.
The research suggests that organisations may be underestimating the scale of hidden confidence issues within their teams, which often originate during onboarding and persist long after employees settle into their roles.
Surveying 2,000 employees across different sectors and demographics, the study found that 58% admitted to skill masking at some point in their current positions. Among them, 46% confessed to pretending to understand tasks they didn’t, while 40% reported avoiding asking for help, even when unsure of how to proceed.
“The data shows a clear mismatch between how organizations evaluate onboarding and what employees actually experience,” said Trond Aas, CEO of Attensi. “Too often, success is measured by checklists, not mastery and confidence. And when employees don’t feel safe learning in person, they mask their gaps rather than close them.”
The report identifies “skill-set anxiety” as a driving factor, particularly affecting younger employees. Over half of workers aged 18–44 said they frequently worry about being underqualified, while 29% described this anxiety as highly relevant to their day-to-day work. Crucially, the most common consequence of poor onboarding isn’t turnover or reduced performance — it’s a drop in employee confidence (55%).
However, the report also points to potential solutions. While many employees hesitate to expose their gaps publicly, 58% say they would confide in a manager, and an impressive 67% are willing to adopt confidential, AI-powered role-play tools to practise and build competence privately.
Aas continued: “The good news is that technology is catching up to human psychology. AI-powered simulations now allow people to rehearse tough conversations, practice decision-making, and close real skill gaps without fear of embarrassment. For organizations serious about performance, the key is creating environments where people can safely stop pretending and start progressing.”
The full report provides strategic insights for companies aiming to improve onboarding, psychological safety, and digital upskilling tools, revealing how confidence and technology intersect to shape employee performance.
“Skill masking is what happens when people don’t feel safe learning in front of others. They hide uncertainty, perform surface competence, and miss the chance to truly master their roles.”
“The data shows a clear mismatch between how organizations evaluate onboarding and what employees actually experience. Too often, success is measured by checklists, not confidence. And when employees don’t feel safe to share weaknesses, they mask their gaps rather than close them. This also creates a lot of bad data for employers who are trying to benchmark skills and implement training programmes to improve employee confidence and performance.”
“The good news is that technology is catching up to human psychology. AI-powered simulations now allow people to rehearse tough conversations, practise decision-making, and close real skill gaps without fear of embarrassment. For organisations serious about performance, the key is creating environments where people can safely stop pretending and start progressing.”