‘Look I’m a girl and I’m also a boss!’
The girl boss movement has become a social media sensation generating nearly three million mentions on Instagram alone, including a variety of labels ranging from #girlboss, to #ladyboss to #bosslady.
I often get introduced as a girl boss when I speak at an event or do a media interview and it always makes me cringe a little. I’ve never been able to identify with it, so I dug a little bit deeper to find out why.
I assume positive intentions of the movement to encourage women in leadership positions but I can also see a slight reverse effect causing feelings of insecurity, inauthenticity and entitlement.
These labels seem completely irrelevant. Do we really need a title to highlight that we are girls and running a business or does it put us women in a separate box, different not only to male leaders but also to everyone else including our team members. If we strive for equality, we need to live and breathe equality.
Imagine a guy calling himself a #boyboss, I have yet to meet that guy.
Would Mother Theresa have called herself a #girlboss? Margaret Thatcher probably would!
The girl boss movement often paints an unrealistic picture, making running a business look like a walk in the park or similar to licking chocolate all day, when in fact it isn’t. Why not celebrate the grittier reality of running a business, embracing the ups, the downs, the challenges, the mistakes. Nothing is more inspiring than the confidence to admit stuff-ups, they are all part of the journey.
Portraying an image of ‘she’s got it all under control’ can create low self-esteem and insecurities in women because they think they are the only ones struggling and challenged by this crazy game called business.
I’m a big advocate of celebrating and encouraging people, both men and women, but I am not so sure the girl boss label helps in creating a future generation of amazing leaders with values based on inclusion, collaboration and gratitude rather than significance and entitlement.
To be successful female leaders we don’t have to be tough power tripping ball-busters, instead we need to lead by example. A title is not going to help us run a successful business. Rather than masking our weaknesses, being real and vulnerable is a lot more sexy and will not only make us better leaders, it will also inspire those around us to step it up and drop the BS.
Realising that every single person in an organisation is important, from the cleaner to the founder creates a supportive culture.
Entitlement and backstabbing is one of the biggest killers in creating a strong team.
The reality is that mean girls do not finish first. Being kind is a lot more powerful, sustainable and respected than is being bossy or even bitchy.
My dear fellow entrepreneurs and business owners, do we really need a flashy title to feel special? I don’t think so. Instead let’s celebrate the whole journey including everyone walking with us.
In the end, business success comes down to leadership not a title. It is our job as leaders to create other leaders, to inspire and motivate by walking the talk and simply being good human beings.
My two cents.