7 Superpowers of Men
Dear friends -
In each article or blog that I write, I promise to share my best insights with you on the broad - and important - topics of DEI, Bias, Leadership, Gender, and Emotional Intelligence (EQ).
I believe that everyone should have access to equal opportunities. I want to see talented professionals succeed in their career, and I want to see organizations be more diverse, equitable, and inclusive so that everyone’s talents are utilized and valued.
Recently, I wrote an article titled “7 Superpowers of Women” which was based off an article I wrote for Diversity Woman Magazine. Here’s link to the article on LinkedIn in case you missed it.
The article got a great response, so here’s part 2 which addresses the 7 Superpowers of Men.
As a gender, diversity, and leadership expert, I spend most of my time teaching, speaking, consulting, and coaching on every aspect of gender -- particularly how it impacts career advancement, perceptions of men and women, and how we work together.
Turns out, there are 7 key qualities distinct to each gender that serve them well. These qualities or skills stem from how our brains are hard-wired and how we're socialized to behave as men and women in society.
7 Superpowers of Men
1. Risk-Taking – It perhaps comes as no surprise that men are generally bigger risk takers than women. Brain wiring has a lot to do with it as does testosterone. One question that I often ask audiences is, “When your boss asks you to do something you’ve never done, what do you say?” Most men respond “Boss, I got it and I’m on it.” Even though they DON’T know how to do it, they figure it out and 9 times out of 10, this strategy works. Men have the same worries that women do, they just don’t admit it. What’s the result? Data shows again and again that men are offered jobs and promotions more often than women because they ask for more and take more risks.
2. Convergent Problem Solving – Focusing on the problem like a laser beam. Men focus on the issue, do not get distracted by extraneous variables, and solve the problem efficiently and expediently. This approach is advantageous in a fast-paced and competitive work environment.
3. Decisiveness – This is a superpower, in part, because of the convergent problem-solving style listed above. Men have a keen ability to make a decision and move on very quickly. And most men spend little time overthinking or ruminating about past decisions. This enables them to act quickly when the next decision needs to be made. Of course, there can be downsides to this approach, but that’s an article for another day!
4. Confidence – This is an emotional intelligence trait. In EQ assessments, men tend to score higher than women in this area. Confidence can be boiled down to 3 basic elements – think less, take action, and be authentic. Men do this effectively. A UC Berkeley study showed that confidence is more important than competence, and when it comes to leadership, men are more confident although women are more competent. Another study from UC Santa Barbara examined self-perception and found that men consistently overestimate their abilities and performance, and women consistently underestimate their abilities and performance. This overestimation, accurate or not, perpetuates men’s confidence.
5. Assertiveness – This is also an EQ trait where men score higher than women. Men raise their hands and speak more often than women – both in school and at work. A Princeton study showed that when women are in the minority, they speak 75% less than men in meetings. This means that men get most of the floor time to communicate their wants and needs. In addition, men generally care less about being judged, about what others think, and about people pleasing than women. So, they are more apt to speak up.
6. Stress Tolerance – Another EQ trait, is defined as an ability to cope with stressful situations and believing that one can manage or influence situations in a positive manner. It also includes managing your emotions, remaining composed, and maintaining your performance — even when times get tough. Men tend to outperform women in this area. Brain anatomy and hormones once again play a key role in helping men to remove themselves from a situation, control their emotions, and worry less.
7. Executive Presence – Men naturally have what we define as Executive Presence (EP) – height, deep voice, non-emotional, matter of fact style of speech, and space occupying. EP includes 3 key elements - appearance, communication, and gravitas. Essentially, it’s how you look, how you sound, and how you act. These elements give the aura of authority that sets leaders apart, and top jobs are given to those who look and act the part — namely men.
These 7 superpowers have powered men’s careers for decades and will, no doubt, continue to do so in the future. Fortunately for men, most of these skills are innate and can be further developed, honed, and leveraged.
If I can help you or your team with any of these, don't hesitate to reach out.
Dr. Shawn
You can find more information on my website drshawnandrews.com or my book, The Power of Perception: Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, and the Gender Divide
