Yes, I admit it.  I was one of those little girls who were called bossy.  In fact, Bossypants was my nickname. The truth is -- I was pretty bossy as a kid (just ask my younger brother and sisters).  Now the Girl Scouts, Lean In and some celebrities are encouraging us to stop calling girls bossy, launching the Ban Bossy campaign.  

The campaign is based on research that shows that by middle school many girls are not stepping into leadership roles for fear of being labeled bossy and that girls' self-esteem drops 3.5 times more than boys around middle school.  Clearly the call to stop labeling girls bossy is more than banning one word.  It is an awareness campaign to help us all see how we can support young girls in bridging the confidence gap.  And its impact reaches well into the workplace.

As I thought about this in the context of my own story, I concluded that being called bossy, while hurtful at times, also taught me that being bossy was not the best way to get results.  At the same time, my parents and many teachers encouraged me to have a point of view and share it, which is how I developed the confidence to grow, be heard and to lead.  Over time, I refined my leadership style to more effectively influence and inspire others. That is the outcome that we want for all girls -- and boys, too -- isn't it?

We'd love to hear your stories.  Were you called bossy?  What was the impact on your self-esteem?  What can we do to encourage young girls and women to be more confident and to become leaders? Share your thoughts with us via email or on our Facebook page. 

If you haven't seen the Ban Bossy ads, check out the video here:  

Or you can go to www.banbossy.com for more information and some great learning material for schools, scout troops, family discussion or even to share in the workplace.  

Warmest regards,