News.com.au: Saying Sorry Won’t Help Women Break The Glass Ceiling

Through her experience, the most common mistake she has noticed women making is saying “sorry” too much — but there’s a scientific reason behind it.

“Women tend to apologise quite a lot, but it isn’t necessarily due to a lack of confidence,” Ms Damiano explained. “It’s because women are generally trying to harmonise the environment and that’s a biological thing women have in comparison to men.

“Women’s brains are wired so they prioritise emotions, empathy and nurturing while men, on the other hand, prioritise respect.” She explained that men and women think differently, which means they also lead differently.

“There is an unconscious bias towards women in leadership which intimidates women and leaves them in an environment that doesn’t nurture their strengths and cuts them down,” Ms Damiano said.

“When a person feels intimidated, their brain’s threat response activates and consequently they are less likely to be able to express their true potential.”

Part of her research into optimal brain functioning and the application of neuroscience in leadership is exploring women’s emotional nature.

“In women there’s also a bit more resentment and jealously which doesn’t help them break through the glass ceiling.”

Ms Damiano links this to the hippocampus, a part of the brain that stores long-term emotional memory, which in women is slightly bigger than men.

“It makes us remember things from 20 years ago for example when our husband didn’t buy us flowers — and that works against us,” she said.

“It causes some of us to keep resentment and that doesn’t help when it comes to women supporting one another.”

The TEDx speaker said understanding how the brain works will help strengthen and shape future leaders, particularly at a time where the gender pay gap, despite gradually improving, is still an issue.

“Women are typically under-represented in positions of power and the number of women in senior roles is declining globally,” Ms Damiano said.

This year women only make up 5 per cent of Fortune 500 CEOS and according to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) nearly 3/4 of organisations have a male-only management team.

Since implementing her a wellbeing and brain-based leadership model eight years ago, Ms Damiano said it has helped women feel more confident and empowered in the workplace.

“I noticed as soon as leaders, not just women, understand how the brain works, they are more inclined to do something about it,” she said. “People often use the word ‘leadership’, but few understand what it really takes to lead effectively today.

“The top-down management style of the past no longer works, yet few leaders have been able to adapt their approach to the current times.”

In her latest documentary  , Ms Damiano explores the new leadership archetype which she refers to as the ‘Neuroleader’ — explaining leaders will have to become more knowledgeable and aware of their biology — the ‘human behind the leader’.

“New discoveries and technologies are shifting how we think, behave and interact with the world and with each other. Times have changed and a new type of leadership is emerging.”

How Women Can Break The Glass Ceiling

Neuroleadership expert Silvia Damiano

1. Stop saying sorry: Replace the word “sorry”, bite your tongue take a deep breath and use a word that replaces it, for example “I see”, to put you in a better position where you don’t look like you’re lacking confidence.
2. Take care of yourself: Be mindful of your thoughts to have better mental discipline. If you’re too tough on yourself and, self-criticise and try to be controlling, that will work against your capability to think more effectively and make the right decisions.
3. Connect with others: The brain is a social organ and when we are not connected, the brain suffers. We want to develop good and positive relationships inside and outside of work. As we tend to overthink, it’s best we talk to someone we trust and exchange our thoughts to create a better perspective.
4. Develop a supportive network and sounding board: For women it is critical if you want to go up the ladder. To have a mentor, male or female, can lift your confidence and make you feel you have the ability to expand what you are doing currently. It’s about conquering fears.
5. Up-skill: We live in a world where change is all around us and it is important to continue to learn. It’s good, not only for your career, but for your brain. Creative thinking helps you be more resilient and resourceful.

Article written by Shireen Khalil, originally published on news.com.au