A recent study reveals that women are easier to coach than men. They are more accepting of criticism, are more open to learning new things and follow guidelines better … Still, does that make them better employees?
Let’s look at the facts
According to data from the PsychTests.com study, the difference between men and woman is the degree to which they perceive themselves, which in turn could affect their work ethics. Here are the stats:
- 2% of women vs. 7% of men believe that they don’t have any weaknesses.
- 5% of women vs. 11% of men will immediately shut down and stop listening as soon as they hear a negative comment about their work.
- 9% of women vs. 22% of men believe that they are much more knowledgeable than most people.
- 7% of women vs. 16% of men admit that they exaggerate or over-estimate their professional skills.
- 19% of women vs. 27% of men don’t like admitting to others when they are having difficulty understand something, or are unfamiliar with the topic of conversation.
- 15% of women vs. 21% of men aren’t open to advice and suggestions from their manager.
- 5% of women vs. 10% of men actually quit after a performance review.
Research says yes
The trend is clear: men are less likely to acknowledge their weaknesses, take instructions or accept guidance. This is not necessarily bad. Self-confidence, resolve and determination are important qualities that drive an employee towards success. It may also help to explain why there are still more men than women in executive positions today. But these traits don’t necessarily make them better employees.
To be able to accept feedback and help is a necessary component of any business. Being ‘coached’ is a means to bring out an employee’s full potential. A productive and high-performing professional environment is one where employees, male or female, seek help and welcome unsolicited advice on how to improve their skills. If a larger percentage of men have a sense of entitlement and are reticent to receiving criticism or advice, this can only lead to wasted resources and time.
Not to mention that twice the amount of men quit after a poor performance review than the number of women. Can we presume men are therefore also less loyal to an organization?