What is the Glass Cliff?

1 min read | Samantha Furbush Taraskiewicz

Today's blog post comes from our friend Meredith Wood over at Fundera. 

Read ON!


Women in the workplace are an unstoppable force. Despite facing pay inequality, discrimination, and the difficulty of shattering the glass ceiling, women persevere and make up 74.6 million of the civilian workforce. So why is it that women CEOs are still 45% more likely to be fired from CEO roles than men?

The glass cliff, a close relative to the glass ceiling, is yet another phenomenon that prevents women from succeeding in the workplace. This term describes what too often happens when women are appointed to executive roles in a corporation when business performance is reduced. Capable women are elevated to these positions despite the chance of failure being the highest, and then are held personally accountable when they can’t turn things around.

Women who want to advance to top roles in their companies should carefully examine company trends and insights to assess the level of risk that comes with an executive position. In addition, factoring risk into salary negotiations can help to secure a competitive salary for a precarious leadership role. Determining how success in the role will be measured will also set the stage for performance standards.

Ultimately, the glass cliff is no match for an empowered women at work. Though it can be a cruel paradox to face, there are several ways for women to navigate the glass cliff without falling off. See the infographic below from Fundera for more:

What is the Glass Cliff?

*Infographic originally published at Fundera