07-25-2024
Two researchers first coined the term "glass cliff" in 2005. It refers to the repeated examples of companies in crisis appointing women to come in and turn things around. This phenomenon sets women up for failure. The New York Times cites several examples of this “glass cliff." Boeing appointed Stephanie Pope to run the commercial airplane division after its very public plane malfunctions. Under Armour put Stephanie Linnartz in charge of turning its company around—she lasted a year. Bed Bath & Beyond, on its way to bankruptcy, hired a woman chief executive officer for the first time.
Some researchers believe companies in crisis, consciously or unconsciously, select women to lead based on a perception that women offer the soft skills needed to face upcoming challenges. Most of the time, these companies have been struggling for at least five months. Researchers see this "glass cliff" occur in sports leagues, universities, and governments. The term now includes selecting individuals of color for these same types of situations. Women and people of color are perceived as having developed essential soft skills to navigate their careers in challenging conditions.
According to researchers Alison Cook and Christy Glass, who wrote a book on the subject, many women placed in these sometimes impossible situations face a lot of difficulties. They receive blame for failing to successfully resolve the crisis in a short period of time, even though many of the issues occurred under male leadership. Even if they are successful, the company may send them on their way and revert to male leadership. Cook and Glass spoke to several women who used their knowledge and experience for their own entrepreneurship. It is unclear how many women placed in risky leadership roles move on successfully.