The real definition of the term “Bossy.”

The Girl Scouts of America and the Lifetime network currently being the sponsors of the “Ban Bossy” campaign that has gotten attention from the likes of many successful women leaders in our society such as Condoleezza Rice, Beyonce Knowles, Diane von Furstenberg, Jane Lynch, Sheryl Sandberg, and Anna Maria Chavez that participate in a Public Service Announcement to empower young girls. Among these women, men Jimmie Johnson and Arne Duncan spoke out against the word bossy. 
In the beginning of the Public Service Announcement (PSA) the women incessantly repeat the adjectives pushy, stubborn, and bossy in hopes of replacing them with words that encourage young girls to become women of leadership. Being pushy is not synonymous with being a boss; in fact the exact definition is to be obnoxiously forward or self-assertive. Being stubborn isn’t synonymous with being a boss, it has various definitions such as being unreasonably obstinate, fixed or set in purpose or opinion, or difficult to manage or suppress. Being bossy isn’t synonymous with being a boss; the term is meant to describe individuals who are given to ordering people about, overly authoritative, or domineering. A boss is defined as a person in charge of a worker or organization.
I believe in the power of the dictionary. Daily I encounter people using words in what they believe to be the right context based on how they’ve heard it being used previously or in the wrong text (myself concluded). It is imperative to understand words because as much as we want to believe that “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”, we all know that words have an affect on our being or else. The Girl Scouts of America and Lifetime wouldn’t take the initiative to ban bossy. 
Being a boss is not equivalent to bossing people around. It’s okay to want to guide, oversee, or be an advocate for others, but it is in the way you decide to guide, oversee, and advocate that differentiates you from being a boss or straight up bossy.
For the most part, as a college student the majority of Southern’s population has been, or is a part of the work force. From my own experience, I have never appreciated a domineering, overtly outspoken, or obstinate boss. In being domineering, outspoken, or obstinate there is a level of limitation imposed upon an employee. A key rule in critical thinking (a key skill in the work force) is remaining objective. With “bossy” personalities as authoritative figures, a company, organization, or initiative hinders its ability to see beyond the black and white.
If Beyonce listened to Public Relations executives about needing to promote her latest album prior to it’s release, not initially limiting her album to iTunes, limiting her lyrical content, or limiting her album to a strictly listening experience, she wouldn’t be the boss that she is today. Beyonce holds the Guinness World Record for fastest-selling album on iTunes, follows in Janet Jackson’s footsteps with an album filled with feminist, girl power content, and creates a visual album so that fans can relate to her on many levels. 
Beyonce stated in interviews, “I am bored with that.” That is what ignites the passion of a true leader, not name-calling. When you feel as though your vision no longer fits into society’s mold, you become an advocate for something greater – a broader, less defined mold so that millions can flourish within the same construct.
Who can really blame kids for calling young girls bossy? Even as adults it is uncomfortable dealing with pushy and stubborn individuals, especially in the workplace. Being called bossy does not hinder you from your potential boss status; it should shape a child into understanding that their current form of attempted leadership is unacceptable and should be adjusted.
That is the art of leadership. I’m all for feminism, female empowerment, and girl power in general, but instead of banning a word, let’s do something more significant like redefining a word. Why when one says pushy, stubborn, or bossy is it thought to hinder a child’s ability to be a leader? What does that say about our definition of a leader? How can we as women, employees, leaders, and potential leaders create a mold so unbreakable that a measly word like bossy won’t get in the way of our talents?
That is the key to the future success of our young girls.