I'm Not Bossy, I'm the BOSS By Lashana Thomas
Photo Credit Bossip.com |
As a promising entrepreneur, the word bossy doesn't make me
feel subservient. In fact, it empowers me to believe that I have the courage
and the ability to be an effective leader. When we consider Kevin Kruse’s
definition of leadership—a process of social influence, which maximizes the
efforts of others—toward the achievement of a goal, we can shed an alternative
and more positive light on the word “bossy” and its role in leadership. Leadership
doesn't stem from authority or power but the ability to inspire the best in everyone
for a common goal. The notion that a bossy woman cannot be an effective leader
devalues a strong and assertive leadership style. The word bossy may be defined
as authoritative and demanding, but these are attributes that girls and women
should pursue and not shy away from. We live in a society that prides itself on
achievement and success. In order for women to succeed in business or as
entrepreneurs, we must be able to stand strong with the self-confidence and ambition
to lead.
There are many women who we can assume had to embrace being
labeled "bossy" in order to move up the C-Suite ladder and become
actual bosses in corporate America. Several successful women today have had to embrace
their inner boss to achieve corporate goals or to start successful companies. We
can learn valuable lessons from women such as Ursula Burns, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Xerox, a $23 billion dollar company. Burns has stated that
taking risks was the break or make point in her career, and she now comes to
appreciate and really value the other attributes that define a company's
success beyond P&L (profit and loss): great leadership, long term financial
strength, ethical business practices, evolving business strategies, sound governance,
powerful brands and value-based decision making. Burns has set a path that we
can all learn from and implement to move up the corporate ladder.
Another woman who we can learn from, who accepted bossy-like
attributes to become the boss is Oprah Winfrey. One of the best lessons we can
learn from Oprah is the belief in one’s self and following your instincts. She
didn't accept that she was a woman in a male-dominated entertainment industry. She
decided that she would follow her instincts and take risks, which led her to
become one of the most powerful women in entertainment. An incredible lesson
that should inspire entrepreneurs to take risks, stand up for your vision and
be the boss you were called to be!
In closing, there are positive and negative connotations
associated with being labeled “bossy,” but young girls and women should embrace
the positive ones. These include self-confident, ambitious, determined and
risk-taker. Women should be empowered to create the lives they want to live
without being stigmatized for being assertive in their quest for success.
Instead of banning the word “bossy,” we should embrace what being bossy really
stands for—taking charge, taking risks, speaking our minds and being strong, all
of which are necessary qualities for being an effective leader. Being bossy
means being authentic in a way that empowers others to greatness and not to
degradation.
I choose to embrace the positive definition of the label “bossy”
while conducting myself as a BOSS—a woman destined to be great, leading by example
and making a difference!
Lashana L. Thomas is the kind of entrepreneur who sets her
sights on a goal and doesn’t stop until she reaches it. Her ambition and drive
are unparalleled and an inspiration to everyone who comes in contact with her. Working
as a celebrity talent producer has motivated Lashana to launch her first Production Company, a TV and Film production
company creating original content for diverse media platforms in Summer 2014.
Lashana is also continuing to work on various movie and TV productions,
commercials, and independent projects. Follow Lashana on Twitter @ShanaKnowsBest
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