Here’s Here’s how how parenthood parenthood changes changes your your brain, brain, making making you you a a better better leader leader

Does Does becoming becoming a a parent parent make make youyou a a better better leader? leader? Research Research suggests suggests that that the the answer answer is is yes. yes. Both Both mothers mothers and and fathers fathers undergo undergo measurab

New New mothers mothers

• • The The research research into into pregnancy pregnancy and and motherhood shows shows that that pregnant pregnant women women and and new new mothers mothers go go through a a process process of of synaptic synaptic pruning pruning that’s that’s even even greater greater than than that that which which occurs occurs at puberty, puberty, when when adolescents adolescents lose lose some some of of their their brain’s gray gray matter matter and and streamlines itself itself for for adult adult life. • • Mothers Mothers also also see see areas areas of the the brain brain where where gray gray matter increases. increases. That That includes includes the sections sections devoted devoted to to theory of of mind—the mind—the area area of of the brain brain that that helps helps us us understand what what another another person might might be be thinking. thinking. That understanding understanding is is needed needed for empathy, empathy, an an essential quality quality for for leaders.

New New fathers

• • Studies Studies show show hormonal hormonal changes, changes, including including a a lessening lessening of of testosterone testosterone and and cortisol, cortisol, or or the the “stress “stress hormone.” hormone.” Estradiol Estradiol (a (a form form of of estrogen, estrogen, which which is is also also present present in in men) men) and and prolactin prolactin increase, increase, making making men men more more nurturing. nurturing.

• • A A 2014 2014 study study showed showed that that gray gray matter matter in in parts parts of of new new fathers’ fathers’ brains brains that that respond respond to to threats threats and and stress stress were were lessened,

while while parts parts involved involved in in empathy and and attachment attachment saw saw gray gray matter increase. increase. These These changes changes were directly directly related related to to parenting activities, activities, researchers researchers reported. • • Unlike Unlike new new mothers, mothers, for for new fathers fathers these these changes changes do do not appear appear to to be be permanent, permanent, and and may begin begin to to fade fade after after the the first first few months months of of parenthood.

Perhaps Perhaps most most interesting, interesting, new new mothers, mothers, fathers fathers and and babies babies experience experience spikes spikes in in oxytocin. oxytocin. It’s It’s sometimes sometimes called called “the “the love love hormone,” hormone,” but but it it too too is is associated associated with with understanding understanding and and empathy, empathy, another another way way that that being being a a parent parent can can make make you you a a better better leader. leader.