7 Ways Female Business Leaders Can Navigate the Glass Cliff Without Falling Off

The glass cliff phenomenon is a metaphor for situations when high-performing executive women are elevated to leadership roles in a company during times of turmoil and ultimately fail as a result. The failure speaks not to the shortcomings of women leaders, but that they are often set up to do poorly. Perhaps most supportive of this fact is that women CEOs are 45% more likely to be ousted from CEO roles than men.

Capable women who want to rise to the top ranks in a company should be well aware of the glass cliff phenomenon before taking on any risky leadership. By examining company reports and industry trends, they may be able to better sense risk. Similarly, factoring risk into salary negotiations can help secure an appropriate salary for a precarious leadership role. Women encountering the glass cliff should also feel comfortable turning down a role if the risk is too great, as being set up for failure can ultimately be far worse than simply walking away.

For more tips on how to navigate the glass cliff, check out the infographic from Fundera below: