From the "Glass Ceiling" to the "Glass Cliff"

In this video:

?What's the term "glass cliff"?

?How is it distinct from the term "glass ceiling?"

?If we find ourselves (or our colleagues) on a "glass cliff," what can we do?

You’ve very likely heard of the “glass ceiling,” but have you heard of the “glass cliff”?

The “glass cliff” is one of those terms I wish I’d known about when I was working my way up the corporate ladder; it would have helped me understand my own experience (and that of many of my female colleagues) much better.

But despite how incredibly useful it has been to me, it remains a term that’s relatively little-known and much-overshadowed by it’s elder sister, “glass ceiling.”

So, when I used the term in conversation the other week and my friend asked, “What’s that?!”, it was just the prompt I needed to record this Uncomfortable Question.

And so this week’s Uncomfortable Question was born! In the video, I explain the term, where it came from, and how it plays out in our workplaces (and wider world).

So, two special requests for you:

1. Is this the first time you’ve heard the term? Drop me a note and let me know - I’d love to hear if it you found this helpful.
2. Have you experienced or seen the glass cliff in action in your organization? Hit reply and drop me a line — I’d love to hear your story.

Dive Deeper:

?? READ??

From glass ceilings to glass cliffs: a guide to jumping, not falling | 美国麻省理工学院 - 斯隆管理学院 | ?? 6 mins

?? WATCH??

Women and the "glass cliff" of leadership | CNN | ?? 5 mins

?? LISTEN??

After the glass ceiling, a glass cliff | Freakonomics | ?? 52 mins

Melina Cordero is the Founder & President of P20 Workplace , a firm that delivers digital leadership development and DEI solutions built for the post-2020 workplace. Read the story of how she leapt from commercial real estate executive to DEI innovator, explore her services, and connect with her on?LinkedIn, where she shares the latest data, research, and ideas on the evolving world of work.

? Submit an Uncomfortable Question or topic here?