Some women inspire total awe with how they can juggle career, family, social life and hobbies like they have no limits. How do they do it? How do single mothers, for instance, manage to get up at the crack of dawn, get the kids ready for school and head to work with energy and confidence while running a staff meeting? This is what’s known as the “boss lady” at work.
The term comes from “girl boss,” coined by entrepreneur Sophia Amoruso in 2014, using it for her autobiography, “#GIRLBOSS. The eBay vintage store owner turned her business into a multi-million dollar e-commerce site called Nasty Gal. From then on, “boss lady” (sometimes “girl boss”) has been used to describe women who have the drive and the power to lead.
But not every boss lady has to have a multi-million dollar organization behind her to be called one.
What winning traits should you possess to be a full-fledged lady boss?
10 Winning Traits of a Boss Lady
A boss lady is someone who embodies strength. She can be a leader of a household, a doctor saving lives, a dedicated teacher helping shape a child’s future.
A female boss isn’t confined to one idea; she represents many things, but they all possess similar traits that allow them to succeed professionally and personally:
1. A Boss Lady is Self-Confident
Some people mistake arrogance for confidence. Although confidence comes from within, it’s quiet and uplifting, arrogance is when a person believes that they’re better than others.
Boss lady quotes to remember:
“Confidence speaks for itself, arrogance requires advertising.”
“You alone are enough, you have nothing to prove to anybody.” – Maya Angelou
2. A Boss Lady Gets Work Done
A female boss is someone who gets the work done no matter what obstacles come her way. It doesn’t mean that you have to be the team leader or the CEO of an organization, it simply means that you’re capable of achieving goals amid challenges,
3. Girl Bosses Support Other Women
A boss lady feels stronger when building other people up and supporting others. By cheering for other women or helping someone, we can affect change. This correlates with “self-confidence” as when we feel truly confident, we feel equipped to help other people. We all succeed when we empower each other.
4. Boss Ladies Inspire Others
A boss lady can inspire others around them. They use their skills and their self-assuredness to inspire others to step up and become better.
Let’s take a look at Helen Keller. Not only was she a well-renowned author, but being blind and deaf herself, she was able to fight for people with disabilities and show that deaf and blind people deserved respect. Hellen Keller was a woman with quiet confidence, solid persistence, and a dream that continues to live on 50 years after her death.
Boss lady quote to remember: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Hellen Keller
5. A Girl Boss is Ambitious
Boss women are driven. They have goals and visions that they set, either for themselves or other people. This can involve relationships, family, or even hobbies.
6. A Boss Woman is Honest
Being truthful, telling things as they are, can be difficult for most people. A boss woman sees no point in wasting time sugarcoating the truth or even telling a white lie to make it seem better. She goes straight to the point without dancing around her point.
Manners are necessary, but being truthful is more important. If you think that a particular situation would benefit with some honesty on the table, then be straight with everyone involved.
7. A Boss Lady Has Integrity
When you know something’s right, you never back down from a fight. By standing up for what you believe in, you take charge of your life.
8. A Boss Lady is Proud
Pride is taking ownership of your accomplishments; even when a project or pitch doesn’t turn out the way you want it to, the girl boss still takes ownership of that. Only by taking full responsibility and ownership of something can you truly be proud. It is not a weakness to admit to mistakes.
9. A Boss Lady is Not Easily Influenced By Others
A boss lady knows when to accept criticism and when to stand her ground.
It’s OK to be open to other people’s thoughts and opinions, however, if you are truly confident with an idea or belief, then you won’t ever be defined by others’ comments.
10. A Boss Lady is Independent
Independence is an important characteristic of a boss lady. This doesn’t mean that you work alone or you don’t need the help of others. It means that you stay on top of things and you don’t rely on other people to move a project forward. You’re proactive and have the experience to call the right shots.
How to Dress Like a Boss Lady
Clothes have a dramatic impact on how we see ourselves and how others see us.
Wear clothes that make you feel confident and powerful.
Here are some tips on dressing like a boss lady.
Dress the part
Choose clothes that are appropriate for the occasion or your position. Always pick clothes that you like but also consider where you’re going and the people you’re meeting with.
Dress comfortably
When people are comfortable and confident in what they’re wearing, morale becomes higher and you’re able to do your job more effectively.
Buy pieces that define your position or the position you want
We all come in different shapes and sizes, and we all do different things, but it’s important to have the essentials in our wardrobe as this will save us time and money in the long run. For example, no matter what career you have, you need a reliable pair of trousers you can mix and match with a majority of your top. You also need shoes that not only look professional but are also comfortable and easy to match.
Dress to inspire
If you want to be a full-fledged boss lady, then you have to consider how people perceive you and your clothes. People perceive well-dressed individuals as more reliable and tend to go to them for support. So dress in a way that will inspire people to rely on you.
So is a Boss Lady a Compliment?
Absolutely.
To be dubbed a strong person is always a compliment. The “boss lady” tag should make you feel good. Although we still live in a world where women are confined to a predetermined code of conduct and being called strong can be seen as masculine or unfeminine, being a boss lady doesn’t make you less feminine.
These ten winning characteristics are already inside you and only need to be honed and practiced. Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Remember to support others, no matter what gender or orientation. Lifting each other up is the only way forward, and it all starts with you.
