Do you want the ball?

What does it take to be in leadership?

How would you describe a person who will stop at nothing to be in control of his or her own destiny?

Most people often picture a “baller” as a famous sports player or rapper, but it has spread into different cultures.

Women are now considered ballers too, because women are leading the path of growing in male-dominated professions.

The modern slang term “baller” however, has its roots in sports.

Players of various ball sports can refer to a great basketball player or a lavishly successful person. It can also describe someone or something as excellent, in some spectacular way. Ballers are successful people, living an elaborate lifestyle or considered the boss. The term baller has evolved as a slang term for excellent.

Are men and women in competition with each other to be ballers? Do you agree that men and women leaders should possess the same traits, such as assertiveness and competence, typically viewed as male characteristics? Do all female leaders need to be either an “Alpha” or a “Beta”?

The Alpha woman is defined as being in control and is aware of her position, never willing to take a back seat when it comes to business. Beta bosses are defined as cool and calm having a caring nature, easily approachable and seeks to motivate people.

However, good leadership should not be about gender, or race, focusing on these issues will only create conflict pitting male against female or Alpha against Beta.

Women are often seen as either too mascu-

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Sherry Holliman A Political View HOLLIMAN

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line or bossy or too feminine and emotional. The problem with these labels is that they promote and perpetuate both actual and expected behaviors. Given these labels by society will create many challenges for future generational women ballers.

Society expects leaders to possess the power to be in control but on the other hand society is being judgmental advocating for gender traditions and stereotypes concerning women’s professional growth. As a woman are you supposed to be sensitive, nurturing, not forceful or promote yourself? Women are viewed as ballbusters if they are pushy, bossy, go getters, aggressive, selfish, or outspoken.

Where men are always viewed as ballers if they are persuasive, natural leaders, knows his self worth and authoritative.

Can both genders carry the balls for a balanced workforce? Women have faced backlash for being masculine. They are retaliated against for violating the feminine gender role stereotype. Women will suffer as ball carriers due to lack of support from society. Women that are alpha and not beta are more masculine will receive more opportunities to be a baller, a shot caller. Being a baller takes courage regardless of how you identify.

Society is the problem, no doubt. However, ball-busting can be eliminated by changing the system to stop the need to categorize at.

Society can begin with each generation to change the traditional expectation of gender roles to encourage collaboration amongst genders. This will lead the world towards more possibilities and potentials. In today’s time, you will most likely have many different bosses throughout your career, and at some point you may work for someone who fits the Alpha profile.

And when you do, consider yourself lucky. But if you wind up with a boss who is just too difficult to work for, regardless of gender, consider it a learning experience and take your ball and go home.

Are you a baller or ballbuster?

Sherry Holliman is a concerned citizen of Crittenden County who has some interesting insights on a variety of subjects she wants to share with the community. She serves on the Marion City Council.