<p>Sheryl Sandberg and the Girl Scouts have combined forces and created a “Ban Bossy” campaign, since girls’ leadership skills are often put down by others’ labeling them bossy. This struck such a chord with me I was dizzy!! I can’t count the number of times I’ve been called bossy, and I can’t count the number of times I’ve attempted to adapt my behavior because of that name-calling. I think banishing this word from everyday use has tremendous power to permit girls and women to be stronger, braver leaders.</p>
<p>It seems that Sheryl Sandberg’s message has been a hot topic in the news recently and I couldn’t help but wonder if she has any sons. (Most Presidents of the US have daughters.) Turns out, SS has 2 kids, a boy 7 yo and a daughter, 5. Whew!</p>
<p>I know there’s a different standard for women in leadership as there is for men. But my most hurtful bosses are women. They’re the ones who have called me ‘bossy’. One got me fired because I was ‘too bossy’. Maybe the men were just a bit more delicate, maybe more respectful. Or maybe I WAS the one who didn’t like my female bosses.</p>
<p>I have trouble with this concept, because I think some women really are bossy. By that, I mean they are extremely opinionated, loud and arrogant, to the point of being offensive. I think it is wrong to assume that every woman labelled “bossy” is simply a leader. No way.</p>
<p>I have never heard this with the word “bossy,” but I’ve heard it a lot about a word that rhymes with witchy for grown ups. My sister heard about the bossy thing on the radio this morning and I was just arguing with her about it, she completely disagrees. She says that people just need to teach their daughters to be leaders without letting them learn to be bossy. I think she is completely missing the point.</p>
<p>The point is that society still believes that a girl or woman who is leading is being bossy – and bossy is bad. We need to let girls and women be leaders and not put them down with a bad word when they do so. No one calls boys and men bossy. It’s strictly a word used to put women down. I think “ban bossy” is right on the mark.</p>
<p>I have held numerous leadership positions over the course of my life time, and I have never heard anyone call me “bossy,” nor do I call all women leaders bossy. I think the premise is seriously flawed. There are plenty of effective women leaders who are not bossy at all. Some women are labelled bossy because they are bossy.</p>
<p>Saw this on the national news last night. My opinion that the basic premise is good, but that banning “bossy” isn’t enough. Educating on the difference between being bossy and being organized, a step taker, a verbal communicator, a leader, etc. is what would be most helpful. </p>
<p>Do you really think “bossy” just pertains to girls??? </p>
<p>True, but how many times have you heard an opinionated man called “shrill” or “strident”? For those too young to remember, those were the adjectives of choice used to describe feminists in the 60s and 70s.</p>
<p>Sorry, but I also think some women are shrill. Haven’t you heard a woman start talking about a topic and her voice gets faster and higher and starts sounding like a whine and … annoying? I’ve heard that sound, and “shrill” is a perfect description for it. I’ve never heard anyone use the word “strident” in my entire life in any context.</p>
<p>Consolation is correct. Women who try to lead groups – either in the boardroom or on the playground – are called bossy, and it’s a putdown. It’s a way of shaming people that keeps them from realizing their full potential.</p>
<p>I don’t believe I’ve ever heard a man called “bossy.” I really do think “bossy” just refers to girls.</p>
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<p>Some women are opinionated, loud and arrogant. So are some men, but they aren’t called bossy. They’re called leaders. They may also be called obnoxious, but they are still deferred to.</p>
<p>Great leadership skills have nothing to do with being bossy, witchy, a duck or an ash hole. </p>
<p>The best leaders are none of the above. it doesn’t matter whether the leader is male or female.</p>
<p>Teaching girls that being a bossy leader is fine is as shortsided as teaching boys it is fine to be a duckish leader. </p>
<p>I have worked with horrible and excellent persons in leadership positions, and the worst of them would be considered bossy, ducks, witches and ash holes. The best of them are able to lead without resorting to any of those methods.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but you have your head deep in the sand (or some other place) if you don’t recognize that women get punished – both formally and socially – for behaviors that are lionized in men. I agree, it’s great when leaders lead in a low-key, low-conflict way, but that sure wasn’t Jack Welch, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, or any one of a number of other legendary CEOs. Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner are treated very differently by the press and the public, and it isn’t because there is such a wide difference in their styles.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter what you call it. When an authority figure is overly domineering, abrasive, high handed etc people find a way to describe it. </p>
<p>Both men and women can be this way. Get rid of the word and it will just be replaced with another.</p>
<p>There are plenty of women in businesses that are team builders and great leaders. I don’t think people run around calling them bossy.</p>