glass cliff: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Business, Academic, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “glass cliff” mean?
A situation where a person from a marginalized or minority group is promoted to a leadership position during a period of crisis or heightened risk, thereby setting them up for a greater chance of failure.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A situation where a person from a marginalized or minority group is promoted to a leadership position during a period of crisis or heightened risk, thereby setting them up for a greater chance of failure.
A phenomenon, analogous to the 'glass ceiling,' where women or other underrepresented individuals are more likely than their male counterparts to be appointed to precarious, high-risk leadership roles in organizations that are already struggling or in decline, often as a tokenistic or symbolic gesture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage, as the term originated in UK academic research and spread internationally. It is well-understood in both corporate and academic contexts in all major English-speaking regions.
Connotations
Connotations are universally negative, describing a form of institutional bias that is often subtle, structural, and discriminatory.
Frequency
Moderately frequent in professional, HR, and sociological discourse; less common in general everyday conversation. Frequency is roughly equal in US and UK professional publications.
Grammar
How to Use “glass cliff” in a Sentence
[Subject] faces a glass cliff.[Organization] places/puts [Person] on a glass cliff.The appointment was a glass cliff scenario.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “glass cliff” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The board effectively glass-cliffed her by appointing her just before the merger was announced.
- She felt she had been glass-cliffed into the role.
American English
- The company is accused of glass-cliffing its few female executives during the restructuring.
adjective
British English
- It was a classic glass-cliff appointment.
- She found herself in a glass-cliff situation.
American English
- The glass-cliff effect is well-documented in Fortune 500 companies.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in discussions about diversity, equity, succession planning, and corporate governance to critique tokenistic appointments during crises.
Academic
Used in sociology, management studies, gender studies, and organizational psychology as a formal term for a documented research phenomenon.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; might appear in informed discussions about workplace equality or news articles about corporate scandals.
Technical
A specific term in social science and HR analytics describing a measurable pattern in appointment data.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “glass cliff”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “glass cliff”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “glass cliff”
- Using it to describe any difficult job (it must involve a marginalized appointee and a pre-existing crisis).
- Confusing it with 'glass ceiling'. The 'ceiling' prevents you from reaching the top; the 'cliff' is what you find when you get there.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The term was coined by Professors Michelle K. Ryan and Alexander Haslam of the University of Exeter, UK, in 2005, based on their research into FTSE 100 companies.
No. While initially studied concerning women, the phenomenon can apply to any individual from an underrepresented or marginalized group (e.g., based on race, ethnicity, age) who is appointed to a perilous leadership role.
A 'poisoned chalice' is any job or role that is likely to bring failure or problems to the person who accepts it. A 'glass cliff' is a specific type of poisoned chalice where the appointee is from a marginalized group, highlighting a systemic bias in who gets these risky assignments.
By ensuring diverse candidates are considered and appointed for stable, promising leadership roles, not just for crisis management. It requires intentional, equitable succession planning and addressing unconscious bias in boardroom decisions.
A situation where a person from a marginalized or minority group is promoted to a leadership position during a period of crisis or heightened risk, thereby setting them up for a greater chance of failure.
Glass cliff is usually business, academic, journalistic in register.
Glass cliff: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡlɑːs ˈklɪf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡlæs ˈklɪf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Poisoned chalice (related concept, but not specific to marginalized groups)”
- “Set up to fail (general phrase)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CEO's office made of GLASS, perched on the edge of a CLIFF during a storm. The view is great (promotion), but the footing is dangerously fragile and the fall is likely.
Conceptual Metaphor
CAREER IS A LANDSCAPE / LEADERSHIP IS A PRECARIOUS LOCATION. The 'glass cliff' extends the common metaphor of career 'ladders' and 'ceilings' into a hazardous terrain where advancement leads to danger.
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of a 'glass cliff' appointment?