Good leaders make tough decisions. They manage their anxiety, gain the respect of peers, inspire confidence and loyalty with their empathy, and motivate and engage with their resilience.
Are these desirable traits inborn or socialised? The answer is both. In my coaching practice, this is especially important for senior leaders under pressure who want to learn to bring out the best in both themselves and those they lead. But how?
Yes, you can learn to manage your hormones.
By collecting hormone levels from research* participants solving problems as a team, a direct correlation was found between leadership effectiveness and the ratio of testosterone to cortisol (both are steroid hormones in your blood)
Testosterone (normally present in both males and females) is associated with assertiveness, competitive behavior and sensitivity to status, while cortisol, known as “the stress hormone”, kicks in when we feel fearful or threatened (fight or flight). The most aggressive individuals did not make the best leaders. On the contrary, high testosterone was actually a disadvantage when paired with high cortisol.
While individuals with the high testosterone/low cortisol profile tended to approach problems through a “challenge” framework, participants with high levels of both hormones were more likely to view stressors as threats, and react with avoidance and submission, for both men and women.
Feed forward and make a change
Hormones directly influence our behavior, but our behaviour also can affect our hormone levels. The hormonal changes we can implement won’t be as fast as a fight or flight response, but we can definitely launch and healthier more effective hormone profile which is especially needed when leading others.
it is possible to manipulate hormonal levels by posing the muscles of the body. The muscles trigger the brain to produce the desired hormones. A Power Pose is when you make your body as large as possible. What athletes do when they win: both arms high up in the air, chest out, head tilted back, and mouth open. This position is assumed even by blind athletes when they win even if they have never seen anyone assume this pose. Baboons assume this position when they triumph or wish to frighten an enemy.
Maintaining this position for two minutes can increase testosterone production and reduce cortisol levels. Feeling more calm and assertive can be invoked by your body positioning.
The researchers also specifically measured the effect of two minutes keeping arms tight by one’s side and legs clamped together. It reduced production of testosterone and increased production of cortisol. In other words, you can trigger agitation and lack of assertiveness through the way you position your body. Think of cultures who force those being dominated into this position. It works. Yikes. Please share this post to help empower those who need your support.
What you can do about it
Exercise: decrease your cortisol levels and reduce stress.
Sleep: Getting too little sleep can lead to increased cortisol in the afternoon.
Be mindful: How we assign meaning to an event directly influences hormone levels. When you’re anticipating a competition or a status challenge, testosterone levels go up. Reacting to the situation as a threat will cause cortisol levels to rise. Through coaching and mindfulness practices, we can train ourselves to stay calm confident and reframe stressful situations.
Be available to connect: Leadership is about relationships. A hormone that increases our attention to social information is oxytocin, which is released through intimacy and bonding. Increased oxytocin levels may help with increasing affiliation and team bonding in the workplace — but only when people see themselves as being on the same team.
Use what you know for the good of all: We know a good leader when we see one. We feel it in our gut. Now that you know this, do you have a choice but to use it to contribute your best in making this world a better place?
In summary…
Decision makers who want to identify natural leaders look for individuals who stay cool under pressure, negotiate well and view problems as a challenge which can be resolved rather than a threat to avoid. The leaders who had high testosterone and low cortisol persisted in the face of failure and were best able to adapt in high-pressure situations.
How can you use neuroscience to be the best coach and leader that you can be?
Where in leadership situations do you think this could be best applied?
I look forward to reading your comments.
*Dana Carney, Amy Cuddy, and Andy Yap. “Power posting brief nonverbal displays affect neuroendocrine levels and risk tolerance.” PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE,21,10, 2010, pp. 1363-1368.
McDermott, Rose, “Testosterone, Cortisol, and Aggression in a Simulated Crisis Game” (2006). Hendricks Symposium–Department of Political Science. Paper 5. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/politicalsciencehendricks/5