When Your Promotion is Actually a Glass Cliff

Bossed Up

What do you think of when you hear the term “glass cliff”? I have been pondering this concept for a while, especially in light of the upcoming election. In today’s episode, I share my thoughts on the problems, and potential opportunities, inherent in the social construct that so often presents women with their opportunity to lead only when the ship is sinking. If you have ever sought or been offered a promotion that seems a bit doomed to fail, this episode is for you.

Consider the glass cliff on your way through the glass ceiling as we explore:

• The origin of this term and the research that backs it up;
• The potential dangers of accepting a leadership role in a crumbling company;
• The potential opportunity waiting within this gender-biased blind spot.

Related Links:

• Episode 465, What Kamala’s Candidacy Means for Women Leaders - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode465
• New York Times, When That Promotion is Really a ‘Glass Cliff’ - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/12/business/glass-cliff-effect.html
• Harvard Business Review, How Women End Up on the “Glass Cliff” - https://hbr.org/2011/01/how-women-end-up-on-the-glass-cliff
• Kathryn Kincaid’s thesis, Why Can Why Can’t a Woman Fail Like a Man? - https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1401&context=ugtheses
• LEVEL UP: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/