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Why Women Entrepreneurs Differ from Men

Written by: Shirley Mueller

Article Overview: “Many people perceive a style difference as the other person’s personal failing.” Deborah Tannen Have you noticed? Women and Men aren’t just dissimilar below the neck. They often act and express themselves differently as well. That is due to changes in an entirely different area than below the belt. It is their brain, which is located above the neckline. In general, she says “slow” and he says “go.”

Why Women Entrepreneurs Differ from Men

“Many people perceive a style difference as the other person’s personal failing.”
Deborah Tannen

Have you noticed? Women and Men aren’t just dissimilar below the neck. They often act and express themselves differently as well. That is due to changes in an entirely different area than below the belt. It is their brain, which is located above the neckline. In general, she says “slow” and he says “go.”

Our business choices, like many other decisions, are rooted in our neurobiology. And, the neurobiology of women’s brains is somewhat different than men’s due to phylogenetic history based on genetic selection for survival. Here are some brief examples:

Our prehistoric grandmother had to protect herself so she wouldn’t be killed. Since she was the physically weaker sex, this involved caution.

Also, our great, etc. grandmother wanted to be as comfortable as possible. This required cooperation and communication with other females. Talk/listen was the process she used.

Additionally, our historical grandmother had to look ahead to her future. Which male would she align herself with who could give her and her potential children protection? Which group members were trustworthy allies? Thinking ahead and seeing her future in perspective meant she saw the overall goals for her survival, the long-term picture.

Lastly, when she had children, she had to be responsive to them or they could die and her genes would not be carried forward. For example, when children became ill she would have to intervene quickly to prevent worsening illness or death. This sensitivity is closely aligned with intuition.

These genetically selected female traits (caution, talk/listen, appreciation of the long term picture and intuition) are still used today by women, but not for the same purpose as hundreds of thousands of years ago. Now, they are brought into play to solve modern problems. These traits are especially useful in business. This is because our contest today is mental, not physical. This means these female genetic traits, though different than men, are strong in today’s competitive environment that is mental rather than physical. They often bring superior business results over the use of more typical male traits such as brash confidence, rapid action and lack of communication. Ultimately, when each sex understands the other’s style better, it will go along way to help both women and men make better business choices both independently and together.

Copyright Shirley M. Mueller, MyMoneyMD

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Article Tags: allies, brain, brains, business choices, caution, cooperation, deborah tannen, female traits, females, genes, genetic selection, grandmother, group members, hundreds of thousands, intuition, neckline, neurobiology, survival, weaker sex, women and men



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