Brain Chemistry: Implications for Employers and All Relaationships

Brain Chemistry, Implications for Employee Retention

Brain chemistry based in pioneering research has opened the door to understanding human behavior at a new level. Unequivocal findings have shown stress hormones, testosterone in men and oxytocin in women, affect how humans feel, think, and react to their environment. Two neurotransmitters, dopamine in men and serotonin in women, have a role in the stress response.

Everyday stress happens to everyone, everyday, to varying degrees. These chemicals, present in the brain of both men and women, are essential to optimal functioning throughout your day. The chemicals are responsible for gender traits inherent in how men and women differ. These differences have been the bane of every relationship we hold near and dear to our heart.

Understanding and embracing these differences is at the core of happiness, harmony, and success of every relationship. The following account is my story about brain chemistry and the old saying “If only I knew then what I know now” applies.

Research has shown these hormones and neurotransmitters play a vital role in the stress response, how humans feel, what they think, what they say, and how they behave in a given situation. It is possible to enhance relationships, business and personal, when you support gender chemistry.

Supporting gender chemistry is as simple as learning the language and basic concepts of gender chemistry. If you have read any of Dr. John Gray’s Mars/Venus books you’ve already been introduced to gender chemistry. If you haven’t read Mars/Venus books, don’t worry, the concepts are easily learned.

Hunters and Gatherers; When the Hunter Works in the Gatherer’s Space
We live in a male dominant society, the result of natural evolution from our history as hunters and gatherers. Men did the hunting and fed the clan, tribe, or community they lived in. Women were the gatherers and tended to the home, children, and the domestic duties. Women managed the cohesiveness of community.

Gender roles have changed significantly in recent history. Breadwinner status today is shared by both genders. Single mothers and fathers have made career decisions which have them sharing a workplace that previously was dominated by the opposite sex.

For all intents and purposes, Joe was an exceptional nurse. In the 1970’s, male nurses were few and far between; Joe was not deterred and pursued nursing.
His graduating class had three men out of ninety graduates. Nursing was, and still is, a female dominated profession.

In terms of gender chemistry, Joe was driven by testosterone. Success on the job supported his testosterone brain chemistry needs. He got the job done every day, completing tasks, which increased his testosterone. Success feels good and feeling good for a man is attributed to high dopamine brain levels.

Joe viewed himself as the best nurse on the floor, but he knew other nurses had more education and experience. Nursing is a profession which demands critical thinking, evaluating the totality of any given situation, and making sound clinical decisions. “Not on my watch and do no harm” was his motto.

It was an annual work performance evaluation where brain chemistry made itself known. Joe’s supervisor, a woman, wrote the evaluation. The evaluation related security with his ability as a nurse as “cocky,” and his assertiveness was seen as male aggressiveness. Female co-workers felt intimidated by his demeanor.

His relationship with male physicians was viewed as unprofessional because he would engage in conversation unrelated to work, such as sporting events. Female nurses had reported his behavior reflected a better than thou attitude. This was reinforced by being on a first name basis with male physicians.

Embrace Differences and Acceptance
If only Joe’s supervisor, and Joe, had an understanding of brain chemistry, perhaps his evaluation would have been presented differently. In retrospect, it’s apparent that Joe’s “maleness” worked against him in this situation.

The evaluation did nothing to support his brain chemistry and his success as a competent nursing practitioner. He wasn’t being “cocky” by taking credit for a job well done, he was being male. Men love taking credit, it increases testosterone. When testosterone levels are high, men will often share credit.

The fact Joe’s female co-workers felt intimidated because male physicians treated him differently shouldn’t have been an issue. Men talk to men differently. It’s more a gender trait than being unprofessional, and Joe never addressed doctors by first name in the presence of patients. Soon after this evaluation, Joe moved on.

The Implications
In the 1970’s, brain chemistry hadn’t been researched extensively. Brain chemistry was not a factor employers or lay persons considered during interactions. Today, this communication tool is changing the way people communicate and how business’ market their solutions.

Consumers buy solutions, not products. At the workplace, employers now have at their disposal, the knowledge which quite possibly represents the wave of the future for relationship and business success. Business success which includes;

• Better employee retention.
• Less use of sick time by employees.
• Employee job satisfaction
• Decreased employee burnout

Relationships success such as;

• Improved communication
• Increasing trust
• Supporting each person’s chemistry
• Feeling good about the interaction

If you would like to learn more about brain chemistry for business or personal use visit http://nursing yourpath.com or http://eastkeytosuccess.com