Lead Like Little Bo Peep in Toy Story 4
By: Toni Crowe
Tags: Women, Work, Leadership, This Happened To Me, Short Story

Lead Like Little Bo Peep in Toy Story 4

Little Bo Peep grew into a great leader by necessity. Bo adjusted to tough times and remade herself.

Photo by Austin Kehmeier on Unsplash

“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to others. He does not set out to become a leader but becomes one because of the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.” Douglas McAuthur

The Toy Story film series is a favorite of my granddaughter. As a result, I have seen Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, and Toy Story 4 many times. While my favorite character remains Sheriff Woody, my second favorite is Little Bo Peep. I found the growth of Little Bo Peep into a leader fascinating.

Creator and Copywrite holder: Disney/Pixar-Toy Story

Toy Story — Sweet and Innocent Bo

We first meet Little Bo Peep and her three sheep in Toy Story. Bo Peep is not a toy. Bo is a secondary character — a love interest for Sheriff Woody. She, along with her three sheep, is a detachable piece of a night light belonging to Andy’s little sister, Molly. Bo Peep is made of porcelain, so she is perfect. Andy uses Little Bo Peep as the damsel in distress. She is rescued by the other toys with her sheep standing idly by.

Little Bo Peep is the children’s character we know and love from nursery rhymes. She wears a hoop skirt with a pink bonnet. Bo Peep is overflowing with kindness and common sense. Her voice is a smooth southern slur. When Woody is accused of a horrific crime, Little Bo Peep is the only toy that does not believe the accusation. At the end of the movie, Little Bo Peep kisses Sheriff Woody to cement her role as the love interest.

In Toy Story, Little Bo Peep is the children’s character we all know and love from nursery rhymes. She dresses in her big hoop skirt and a pink bonnet on her head. Bo Peep is overflowing with kindness and common sense. Her voice is a smooth southern slur.

Toy Story 2–Waiting for Woody Bo

In Toy Story 2, we see very little Bo Peep. She only appears in the movies beginning when the toys discuss their fates. Andy is growing up and has less need for toys. Bo continues to flirt with Sheriff Woody.

Bo Peep does not accompany the other toys on their quests. She appears at the end of the movie to once again interact with Woody. Our Bo remains a secondary character.

Toy Story 3 — -No Bo

Bo makes no appearance in Toy Story 3. We know her destiny because we see it in a home movie clip. Little Bo Peep was given away because there was no longer a small child that needed her.

Toy Story 4 — Leader Bo

Creator and Copywrite holder: Disney/Pixar-Toy Story 4

In Toy Story 4, we meet the enlightened Little Bo Peep. Bo Peep is a powerhouse leader. Circumstances led her to change from the naïve Bo in the original Toy Story to a leader. Our Bo Peep spearheads and directs a team of lost toys that help other lost toys. Her team consists of her sheep and other lost toys.

When Woody meets Little Bo Peep again, he is impressed by her changes. She still likes Woody, but Bo no longer fawns over him, instead working with him, peer-to-peer. This Bo Peep is smart, feisty, and independent. Driving a racecar disguised as a skunk around the carnival undetected, Bo Peep is a force, a doer of good. Her porcelain is no longer perfect; in fact, she is slightly cracked.

In Toy Story 4, we meet the enlightened Little Bo Peep. Bo Peep is a powerhouse. Circumstances have led her to change from the innocent, naïve Bo we met in the original Toy Story to a leader. Our Bo Peep spearheads and directs a cadre of lost toys that rescue and help other lost toys find their way. Because Bo was a lamp, she never had a lot of one-on-one time with her children. Bo prefers to play with several children as a lost toy rather than having one special child.

This Bo Peep has turned her skirt inside out making it into a cape. Her staff has been repurposed into a useful tool. Somewhere in the past, Bo Peeps’ arm was broken off. She bandaged the arm back on and kept going. Her three sheep, Billy, Goat, and Gruff are no longer passive. They serve as her assistants, proactively acting on her needs.

“However, Bo was given a major role in Toy Story 4. Regarding the portrayal of Bo in this film, story artist Carrie Hobson explained to GameSpot that the production staff decided to redefine the character for the fourth installment, working to nail down specific personality traits and positioning her as “a character who decided she didn’t just want to sit on a shelf waiting for life to happen. She learned to adapt.” Stylist interviewed some members of the staff, who explained that they “were trying to create a forceful character.” To reinforce that idea, we never wanted to see her hair move.” Regarding her look, Kihm added: “she’s athletic, and perhaps her new outfit gives her this sense of freedom to express that athleticism.” — -Wikipedia

When Woody is in trouble, Bo exhibits another of the traits of an outstanding leader. Although Bo told Woody she would not help him, she reconsiders the situation and decides to help Woody. She shows us yet another leadership trait when she is gracious to her enemy, a giant talking baby doll named Gabby Gabby. Bo puts herself out to help the big baby doll to find a child to love her.

Finally, at the end of the movie, Little Bo Peep shows us who she really is. Although she wants Sheriff Woody to stay with her, Bo Peep urges Woody to follow his heart and return to his special child. Woody leaves only to return to Bo. Our Little Bo Peep is a fully realized, complicated character.

I want to be considered as a compassionate, understanding, fair but formidable leader. It is darn near impossible to pull off, but I worked to be the type of leader that Bo Peep was when I led teams. these days there is chaos and change everywhere.

Anyone can follow Bo’s example to a better manager. Go for it.

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Toni Crowe retired as the Vice President of Operations to pursue her dream of being a writer. Toni has written six books. Her bestselling business book, ‘Bullets and Bosses Don’t Have Friends, ‘ won a Gold Readers Award.

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