Men don’t like rejection. Women aim to be perfect.
Did I catch your attention?
Here’s another one…
When men have to decide to apply for a job, they are more likely to do so when they meet six out of ten requirements for the role.
When women have to decide to apply for a job, they are more likely to do so when they meet at least nine out of ten requirements, but ideally all.
I came across this stat last week twice.
Once I read it somewhere in an article, and once I heard in it a podcast with Brene Brown and Simon Sinek.
They spoke about courage, vulnerability, and shame.
Here’s another provoking soundbite.
“Rejection is the predominant shame trigger for many men, whereas perfectionism (or the fear of not being perfect) is the predominant shame trigger for many women,”
Brene Brown
She’s considered an authority in researching shame.
Obviously, there is some generalization going on here. But she was pretty convincing in her analysis.
The exceptions confirm the rule.
This insight from two behavioral science experts is another piece of data that I gladly add to my pile of data on diversity of thought.
Because I know I never looked at gender differences from that angle.
It made me reflect, and I hope it will do the same for you.
Our lives, our teams, our businesses will only be long-term sustainably successful when embracing diversity of thought.
Period.
We need to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.
The fact that each of us sees the world through a different lens.
That we’ve built up bias over the years that we’re not even aware of.
Every human being, regardless of gender, age, race, education, cultural background, etc., is unique.
It’s a cliché;
it’s an open door;
it causes people to say, Duh;
it’s evident to many of us.
BUT…
when we build the teams and the businesses we’re building, we like to surround ourselves more with people like us than people unlike us.
Just look around you.
We aim for comfort.
And I advocate for discomfort, including rejection and imperfection.
Discomfort, handled well, results in creative tension.
Creative tension drives innovation, personal growth, and the growth of business.
Creative tension is the result of solid self-leadership, embracing the uniqueness of self and others.
Better starts with who!
Your turn: how comfortable are you dealing with discomfort?
Do more of what makes you happy!
Even if you need to deal with discomfort to get to happy.
Erikjan