Do women naturally make better entrepreneurs? When it comes to dealing with the stress of a startup they just might.
In starting a business we all face the same challenges, right? From financing, to figuring out the most effective way to advertise and market, we are all in the same boat. There are numerous competing priorities, and this is no different for either male or female entrepreneurs.
Stress Less for Success
But, and this is where women get a leg up on their male counterparts, how women handle the stress of a new venture is decidedly different than men according to Karin Abarbanel (co-author of a new guide to starting a business called Birthing the Elephant: A Woman's Go-for-it! Guide to Overcoming the Big Challenges of Launching a Business
When it comes to dealing with the emotional side of being an entrepreneur, women more often will recoginze the stresses and ask for help in dealing with them.
There's a difference in how women respond to and handle the emotional roller coaster of launching a business - Karin Abarbanel
Feelings such as fear and axeity, common among those starting a business, are better dealt with by women according to Ms. Abarbanel. Recognizing and dealing with the stress an emotions seems to be a key difference between women and men in this reagard.
More Data
In a 2001 study done by the University of Dusseldorf, it was found that stress affected memory and retention to a greater degree in men aged 20-30 than in women aged 20-30. It is also generally understood, but less evidence exists to support it, that men deal with acute stress (think house fire) better than women, but women deal with chronic stress (think long term financial trouble) better than men.
Final Thoughts
I don' think that anyone would argue that launching a new business is a stressful time. And how we deal with that stress will directly correlate to our success in the venture. It's certainly food for thought for us guys. The next time we think about throwing a chair across the room because our financing fell through, maybe we should pause and think about what Karin Abarbanel says about dealing with stress and seeking out help!
I'm interested in hearing what you think. Do you think the ability to deal with stress more effectively give women an advantage over men when starting a business?
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
good article!
the link to the book doesn’t work.
Gender doesn’t determine success in business. The only thing that matters is whether or not you’re willing to work hard and endlessly until you achieve what you want to achieve.
Hmmm… I’m actually on the fence about this one. I don’t totally disagree; however, although some – or even most – women might deal with stress better than men like you’re suggesting, there are some (or a lot?) of men who deal with stress better than women. Everyone deals with stress differently, eh? And there are definitely some women who are stubborn and won’t always ask for directions or help – I’m one of them!
I do think this post is definitely food for thought. I gave it a stumble!
*smiles*
Michele
@Michele
I think the data is suggesting that “on average” women have a better coping mechanism for stress, or chronic stress, than men. There will be exceptions to the rule (like with everything), but on the whole they deal with it better.
I agree with Derek’s point above that hard work and determination are the main components for success regardless of gender, but this did get me thinkning about how (as a man) I deal with stress, and what I can do to mitigate stressful situations in my business.
Thanks for your insights,
Matt
@Sophia
Should be working now, but thanks for the heads up!
Matt
@Derek
I agree those are the most important factors, and supersede any gender differences by a wide margin. This data got me thinking about how I can deal with stress though, and managing stress is an important part of business.
Matt
Yeah, I get what you’re saying. I don’t disagree, just wanted to mention that there are some men who are “calmer” than some women sometimes.
Thanks for an awesome article!
*smiles*
Michele
This has to do with multi-tasking. You either see several steps ahead or can only deal with current business issues. Multi-tasking isn’t always good but if you can break things up into pieces it is easier to handle than one lump sum of problems.
@Jordan Pearce
I’ve always heard that women are better multi taskers than men…what do you think? And I’ve heard that multi tasking doesn’t necessarily mean you are more efficient…thoughts?
Matt
Not a chance.
“They” say that men handle stress with action and women with planning, so a fire requires instant access and a financial stress requires planning. I’m not crazy about “on average” studies. Puts people in a box!
@Dee
To a certain point I agree with you, it does put people in a box. But aren’t all “studies” on average studies? There will always be somebody who is outside of what they find to be the norm, exceptions but not the rule. The important factor is sample size (which I am unclear of here), the larger the sample size the more you can trust the outcomes of the study.
Thanks for sharing!
Matt
I would have to see what constitutes entrepreneurial.
I know several women that “businesses” selling hand crafts or holding jewelry/candle/basket parties. I am sure they would consider themselves entrepreneurial. I also know several men that build businesses from the ground up and employ tens to hundreds of people.
To me one of these things is not like the other.
Hmm… maybe I should have be born a woman? J/K. I don’t think gender makes that much of a difference. I know both men and women who have failed and succeeded as entrepreneurs.