The “glass cliff” refers to the phenomenon in business that women have a better chance of breaking through the glass ceiling and being appointed into positions of senior leadership only when an organisation is facing a crisis.
There are numerous cases throughout recent history where we see such a phenomenon; an oganisation on the brink of destruction suddenly brings in a female CEO, usually for the first time to replace the male leader responsible for the current turmoil. We’ve seen this firsthand here in Australia with female leaders like Michele Bullock at the Reserve Bank of Australia, Leah Weckert at Coles, Amanda Bardwell at Woolworths and Vanessa Hudson at Qantas.
The female executive is always highly qualified, but she is left with what sometimes turns out to be a problem already beyond fixing.
In the case of business, we seem to perceive feminine-coded qualities such as empathy, communication, and emotional intelligence as best-suited to right the ship.
One big problem with this approach is that failures in business are notorious for reflecting very differently on male and female leaders. Men, especially white men, have a tendency to “fail upwards,” their unsuccessful endeavors woven into the lore of their rise to prominence. Meanwhile, many women leaders are dogged by past failures throughout their careers.
BE CAUTIOUS AND MINDFUL
First of all, be wary. If it feels like a high-risk ticking time bomb, it likely is, so do your due diligence. Decide if you’re willing to be associated with this situation. If the answer is still a tentative yes, then be vigilant in asking for what you need to have the best chance of repairing the problem. Whether it’s budget, or staff, or policy adjustments, make your acceptance of the role contingent on approval of these pieces.
It’s possible this just isn’t the right opportunity for you - and I’m confident it won’t be the last.
SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY
There’s another way to look at all this, though. Even if you acknowledge that you might be receiving this opportunity because you’re a woman albeit a highly skilled and capable one, it’s still a chance. If you can withstand the potential fallout, perhaps you should capitalise on the chance, however rooted in gender-biased blinders it might be.
If your “feminine skills” give you the best crack at this promotion, and you believe you have the know-how and strategy to straighten things out, then be as persuasive as you can and get that promotion!
By Jo Sainsbury
Kickass Women
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