The Science behind GLWS®
Scientifically rigorous. Human-centred. Business-focused.
Long before Covid-19 and psychosocial regulation pushed wellbeing into the mainstream, the GLWS team was already deep in the work, researching and building expertise in leader wellbeing.
Since 2012, the GLWS has been continuously tested, reviewed and validated to achieve scientific rigour. But rigour alone was never the goal. We also needed GLWS to engage and earn the trust of the people we were seeking to help. So, under the direction of psychologists, the GLWS has been designed with leaders, for leaders and informed by leaders to ensure its relevance, credibility and practical value.
The result is a scientifically rigorous measure that works in practice and stands up to scrutiny from every angle. See the evidence below and judge it for yourself.
Thirteen years of item development
GLWS items have been refined continuously since 2012 through extensive trials, ongoing R&D, expert review, psychometric analysis, independent academic validation and real-world feedback from leaders and HR professionals.
Psychometric properties that exceed standards
Extensive reliability and validity analyses meet and exceed recommended psychometric benchmarks.
Peer-reviewed and presented internationally
The GLWS has been used and referenced in academic research, with papers and presentations at leading psychology bodies and symposia, including the APS, BPS and EAWOP.
Independently validated
Independent research by Associate Professor Dr Gavin Slemp at the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Wellbeing Science confirmed that the six GLWS dimensions determine overall wellbeing, happiness, and satisfaction in life and work, with highly significant links to burnout.
Proven at scale
Completed by more than 10,000 leaders, and supported by analyses drawn from over a million item responses, delivered through secure, efficient online processes and trusted across government and business.
Designed for engagement
Credible content earns trust. Sensitive enquiry respects privacy. Careful probing encourages honest reflection. Practical focus drives action. By design, the GLWS is calibrated to be meaningful without being intrusive, and rigorous without unnecessary complexity.
The result is a measure that stands up to scientific scrutiny and works in the real world, trusted by research psychologists and senior business leaders alike.
Rather than ask you to take our word for it, we’d prefer to show you the evidence. Further technical detail is available below.
Explore our white papers in the Resources section or download key psychometric information below.