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The Difference Between Women's and Men's Brains: Changing the Perspective on Leadership

  • Writer: Patricia Faust
    Patricia Faust
  • Feb 5, 2019
  • 7 min read

Ah, our magnificent brains – that three-pound organ that rests between our ears. It dictates who we are, what we do, how and what we think, and we have no idea how it works. To understand the differences in behavior and leadership styles that women and men exhibit in the workplace, it is necessary to go to the point of origin – the brain.


When it comes to the brains of women and men the differences are quite remarkable. The variances between the female and male brain begin in their development in the uterus. Before birth, the female brain is flushed with estrogen hormones, while the male brain is washed with testosterone. As such, baby girls are more attentive to eye contact with their mothers while baby boys are more interested in the activity going on around them.

It is important to understand the workings of the brain in order to comprehend how women and men react differently in life and in the workplace. There are actual differences in the brain structure between women and men. Key parts of the brain are responsible for our ability to function in the working world.


The Amygdala

The Amygdala is a small almond shaped body located deep in the brain in the temporal lobe – behind each ear. It has been shown to play a key role in processing emotions such as fear and pleasure. The amygdala is larger in men’s brain than in women’s brain. Also, men’s’ amygdales have testosterone receptors that heighten responses. Since the amygdala stimulates competitiveness, this explains why men can be so competitive and really enjoy the fight. A recent study by the University of Chicago found that men are 94 percent more likely than women to apply for a job with a salary potential that is dependent on out-performing their colleagues (upstart.bizjournalatwork).


Women and men react differently to the fear response of the amygdala. When the signal of fight or flight is triggered, women respond by gathering in groups – the tend and befriend response. Women are much better at reducing stress and feeling safe by connecting. Men however, tend to withdrawal to themselves. To quote Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster (Mean Girls At Work), “men are from the combat zone, women are from the support circle”.


The Prefrontal Cortex

The prefrontal cortex is located in the front parts of the brain behind the forehead. It is responsible for planning complex cognitive behavior, personality, expression, decision-making and moderating social behavior. It is the executive function system of the brain. The prefrontal cortex is larger and matures faster in women than in men.


Women have more estrogen and less testosterone flowing through their brains enabling them to look for solutions to conflicts. One other distinction is that estrogen promotes the stress response within the prefrontal cortex. What this means is that when faced with a deadline, women will complete a project a week ahead of time in order to avoid the pressure and increased arousal a deadline brings. Men however, will wait until the last minute so they have the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine actually push them to finish. With the combination of brain structure, hormones, and neurotransmitters, it implies that women look for ways to compromise and serve the needs of others while men look for ways to come out on top.


The Anterior Cingulate Cortex

This is another part of the rational decision-making center of the brain. The anterior cingulated cortex governs thinking and emotion. This is another region of the brain that is larger in women than in men. The anterior cingulated cortex has been labeled the ‘worry wart’ part of the brain in women. Its original function prompted women to be cautious and to protect their young. However, in today’s workplace this action is looked at as a lack of confidence by women with no risk-taking skills – especially by men driven by competitive testosterone.


The Corpus Callosum

The brain is divided into two hemispheres. The left side takes care of language and verbal skills and processes information in an orderly, logical way. The right hemisphere deals with visual and spatial information as well as abstract thinking and emotional responses. The corpus callosum connects both hemispheres. It is thicker in women enabling them to use both sides of the brain in a connected way. Because women have language and emotional centers in both hemispheres with a thicker corpus callosum to connect them, women can be more sensitive to and affected by harsh words and criticism in the workplace.


Finally, The Hippocampus

The hippocampus is a horseshoe shaped structure with one located in the left hemisphere and one located in the right hemisphere. The structure is critical to memory function. It not only forms new memories but it also sends memories to the appropriate area of the cerebral hemisphere for long-term storage as well as retrieving them when necessary. The hippocampus is larger and more active in women. It is estrogen sensitive and acts as a relay station for processing memories into words. Women actually have 11 percent more neurons than men in the brain center for language and hearing. This bodes well for developing executive communication styles, and sensitive negotiations. Women use language to develop consensus more efficiently than men. Men’s’ brains are more specifically organized to focus intensely and not be distracted by superfluous information (columbiaconnect.com, 2008).


One more word about the biology of the brain: in December 2013 a research report was released stating that the difference between women and men’s’ brains are actually hardwired. The research on brain connectivity was conducted on 949 individuals – 521 females and 428 males between the ages of 8 – 22. The distinction between the genders became apparent after adolescence. The study determined that females had many neural connections running from side to side between the left and right hemispheres in the prefrontal cortex area. The neural connections in the male brains ran from front to back on the same side of the brain. So what does this mean? Generally, it means that women are better at memory, social cognition tests, and intuition. Men are better at spatial tasks, navigation, and muscle control (Science Daily, Dec, 2013).


The difference between women and men’s’ brains are anatomical and physiological. They kept our primitive ancestors alive and maybe, properly equipping us for the modern workplace! Now that those differences have been scientifically validated, the behavior of women in the workplace should not be regarded as weakness but as effective leadership models. Science has made that decision.


Science has validated that women are equipped to be successful leaders in any capacity they choose. Then why is there such a gender gap in the C-suite in Corporate America and why are there so few females holding top political offices? To answer these questions Peter J. Kuhn and Marie Claire Villenal, both economic professors, studied why women and men perform so differently in the workplace.


The study was set up like this:

· Male and female students from undergraduate business and engineering schools were recruited to participate. They were to choose either team-based projects or solo projects. The teams had to be evenly mixed with males and females.


· First round of the study:

- Solo-based projects – there was no difference in the output between females and males

- Team-based project – performance remained the same – therefore no gender gap

- When evaluated on confidence of team mates’ abilities – women showed ‘much higher’ expectations and confidence in their partners than men did


· Second round of the study: incentivized output

- Solo-based project – paid on an individual basis

- Team-based: each team would be paid on output and they would choose their own teammates

- Women were more likely to choose a team compensated project than men as soon as payment was introduced.


· Conclusions:

- Women’s’ more generous belief about their partners’ abilities account for all of the gender gap choices

- Knowledgeable women simply aren’t as confident in their own abilities as men are, while men are too distrusting of their coworkers’ abilities and overconfident of their own

- This accounts for an abundance of women in the non-profit sector and found sparingly in top financial, economic, or political positions in modern society. Women stay away from competitive environments and flock to positions involving collaboration.


Gender differences in the workplace: women prefer collaboration, while men distrust their coworkers and desire to work alone (Medical Daily, Aug, 22, 2013).

Dr. Daniel Amen has a book titled “Unleash the Power of the Female Brain” where he states that women are hardwired for success. He makes a very compelling statement when he says that “the prefrontal cortex which controls judgment, organization, impulse control, and planning is more active in women”, suggesting that women are wired to hold positions of power and run the world. Through his research Dr. Amen has identified five particular strengths of women that play a key role in leadership: Empathy, Collaboration, Intuition, Self Control, and Appropriate Worry.


Anatomically women have the brains it takes to be extraordinary leaders. Neuroscience has revealed more to us about the brain in the past twenty years than all of history before that. It is important to note that through neuroplasticity our brains are constantly adapting to our environment. If women are continually told they cannot lead – they will not be leaders. But knowing that we are equipped for the challenge of leadership, our brains will positively react to the encouragement of leading. Nature v. Nurture: Nature has given us what we need – now we need to nurture female leaders.


References:


Gender differences in the workplace: women prefer collaboration while men distrust their coworkers and desire to work alone. (2013, August 22). Retrieved Jan. 30, 2014, from http://www.medicaldaily.com/gender-differences-workplace-women-prefer-collaboration-while-men-distrust-their-coworkers-and-desire-to-work-alone.html.


Lean in and why women’s’ brains are wired for leadership. (2013, March 29). Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-amen-md/lean-in-and-why-womens-br_b_2974570.html.


Men vs. women: why the work divide matters. (2013, Jan.10). Retrieved January 30, 2014 from http://upstart.bizjournals.com/resources/author/2013/01/10/male-versus-female-behavior-at-work.html


The hardwired difference between male and female brains could explain why men are better at map reading. (2013, Dec 3). Retrieved Jan. 30, 2014, from http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/the-hardwired-difference-between-male-and-female-brains-could-explain-why-men-are-better-at-map-reading-8978248.html.


Understanding ourselves: gender differences in the brain. (2008). Retrieved Oct. 28, 2013, from http://www.columbiaconsult.com/pubs/v52_fall07.html.

 
 
 

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March was an unusual month for me.  Normally I work on articles, give presentations and generally just stay tuned to what is going on in the field of aging.  This month I “learned” a lot.  Last year I learned how to write a book.  At the time I took the course I thought it would just be a natural extension of all the writing I had done over the years.  WRONG!!  The actual writing of the book was the easy part.  Putting it together into a book was difficult for me.  The course gave me step by step lessons on constructing a book.  Then editing and formatting were just as challenging.  On June 7 last year the book was published!  It was one of the most satisfying days of my writing career. 

Naturally, when you self-publish, you do not have a publisher promoting the book and getting it in the right categories for best sales on Amazon.  That was crushing because I really didn’t know to appropriately market it.  I am a brain health person!  In December of last year, I purchased a marketing program that is based on statistics.  I am technical minded and so this approach made sense to me.  The course is almost completed.  Can’t wait to see if it improves sales!

The next step I am looking at is recording an audiobook.  This is another venture I knew nothing about.  But I am already tagged on Facebook for marketing of audio book programs.  Facebook picks up everything.  Now my husband was creative director for an advertising agency and when I told him I purchased another class – he couldn’t believe it.  “This was my business.  I know how to do recordings, why didn’t you ask me?” Well, I knew he was an expert in that business, but this audiobook needs to meet all the criteria that Amazon requires for publication.  So, he can take care of the recording part of this audiobook, and I will navigate the process of meeting Amazon’s requirements.  We worked on the book together like this. 

Then I talked with some coaching experts on the viability of starting group teaching programs.  Reading The Boomer Brain book and implementing the Brain Healthy Lifestyle have two entirely different outcomes.  This lifestyle is important to maintaining high cognitive function throughout the later years of our lives.  Look for updates as to when I will roll this program out.

My last learning endeavor was attending a two-day bootcamp for Speakers.  I am really excited about what I learned there.  That is a late this year or next year project, but it is one I am really looking forward to.

 

What Is Happening in April?

The American Society on Aging is having their annual conference in Orlando Florida April 21-24.  This is the largest multidisciplinary conference on aging and the annual conference for Members of ASA.  I have attended a number of these conferences throughout the years, and it is consequential.  Keynote speakers and special events are focused on combating ageism in our society.  Although this is a professional meeting, the attendees come from all aspects of aging services.  They have their work cut out for them this year!

April is Stress Awareness Month.  We should be aware of stress every month and understand how we can break the stress cycle.  These are stressful times, and we need to protect ourselves

Here is a positive one “April is National Volunteer Month”.  When I am working with new retirees who don’t know what to do, I talk to them about volunteering. It is important to have a purpose after you leave the workforce.  There are so many nonprofits who need help in all aspects of their organizations.  It is a perfect way to give back.

Finally – It was Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds – the oldest major league team in the nation.  Cincinnati takes that responsibility seriously.  There is always an Opening Day Parade through downtown to the Ball Park.  Huge crowds line the streets and every year there is talk of making it an official holiday.  Schools and employers look the other way when there is an empty desk.  No matter what the outcome of the game is, there is so much joy, and you can feel that energy.  I am fortunate that I get to experience that.  We all need some joy right now. 

Enjoy your April.

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