Brain-Based Reasons To Hire And Promote Women As Leaders
Written by: Dianne McKim, Senior Level Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
There have been and may always be many opinions about who makes the best leaders, women or men.
Historically, due to social and cultural factors, primarily men have held leadership positions, leading to the perception that men are better leaders. However, things are changing, and more women are assuming leadership roles in different fields and industries.
I recently read an article ¹ by Amen Clinics that explained some brain based reasons why women make better bosses. Women's and men’s brains are genuinely different; some differences are stated in the article and paraphrased below. Understanding some of those differences can help in an organizational setting.
A woman often identifies with and shares in another person’s experience. There are mirror neurons in the brain, which are activated when we empathize with someone. They exist in greater abundance in a woman’s brain. In addition, women have a greater volume in the frontal lobe area, which processes social and emotional interactions.
The prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making, learning from mistakes, organization, planning, concentration, self-control, judgment, anger, and aggression control, has more volume in a woman than in a man. Because of this prefrontal cortex difference, women are typically more capable of keeping negative emotions in check.
Women’s intuition is a real thing. Studies have shown that a woman’s brain has more white matter in the intelligence area. Women’s brains have many connections within their brains, co-occurring, while men deal with things more locally. Because of these connections, women can tap the right side of their brains more. The right side is the emotional and spiritual center. Thus a woman can pick up more cues and gut feelings. As a result, women can more quickly assess the thoughts of others based on their gut feeling and arrive at solutions faster, not having to wade through a lot of data.
As many know, women sure can talk! That can be great because communication is essential for a well-run organization. The language center of a woman’s brain is typically more developed.
There is no definitive “better leader." Research suggests that gender diverse leadership teams can bring valuable perspectives and insights, leading to better decision-making and organizational outcomes. A diverse range of leadership styles and approaches contributes to a more balanced and comprehensive leadership landscape.
Ultimately, it is essential to focus on individuals' qualities, skills, and experiences rather than making broad generalizations based solely on gender when evaluating leadership capabilities.
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Dianne McKim, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
A Certified Career, Leadership, and Life Coach, Workshop Facilitator, Author, Speaker, and Guest Interviewee, Dianne McKim has the professional training, personal experiences, and knowledge to help clients successfully grow and thrive.
Dianne enjoyed a long and impactful career in Corporate America, successfully leading teams, influencing peers, mentoring team members, and interacting at all corporate levels (including C Levels). During that time, she developed strong relationships with executives, management, peers, and team members, allowing her to successfully spearhead major projects while negotiating, and navigating bureaucracy.
This wasn't always the way, however. Dianne is an abusive relationship survivor, who navigated through a long and difficult divorce, which resulted in her running a household, working full time the whole time, and raising children as a single mom for 14 years. She dealt with family issues, job losses and job searches, loss of relationships, a lack of confidence, and very low self-esteem.
Over time, Dianne rebuilt her life, rediscovering herself and strengthening her confidence. As she did, she learned how to stand strong in her abilities, understand her value and embrace her identity. As her confidence grew, she discovered how to have professional success, personal contentment, and spiritual fulfillment.
Dianne has taken all that she learned, along with her unparalleled ability and deep care and compassion for others and began Precious Stones Coaching. Her coaching style is inviting, understanding, and encouraging with just the right amount of leadership, guidance, and accountability to help her clients focus on their priorities and accomplish their goals. Dianne wholeheartedly commits to helping her clients achieve and fulfill their calling, purpose, and destiny.
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