Are We Setting Up Women Leaders to Fail?

Glass Cliff Phenomenon Explained.

This article printed in The Times made headlines in 2003: Women on board: help or hindrance?

Elizabeth Judge, the author of this article, writes that companies with women on their boards of directors tend to perform worse than those that comprise mostly of men.

In her words,

“Analysis of FTSE 100 shares shows that companies that decline to embrace political correctness by installing women on the board perform better than those that actively promote sexual equality at the very top.”

A gentle reminder that this article is not from the 1950s, this is from 2003.

The implication here is that women negatively impact a company’s performance, but is that actually true or are we just appointing women at the worst possible time?

What do I mean by that?

Well, have you ever noticed how women often seem to land leadership roles when a company is in hot water? *Cue Boeing CEO David Calhoun stepping down for Stephanie Pope to succeed him amidst multiple crises and two deceased whistleblowers.*

That is no coincidence.

This piece will make you think twice about those "groundbreaking" female promotions you've been hearing about over the last few decades because there’s an actual phenomenon for what I’ve just described.

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

This is the Glass Cliff Phenomenon Explained using data and historic evidence, tilscience style.

For my visual learners, you’re in luck. A new Today I Learned Science YouTube video on the Glass Cliff Phenomenon just dropped.

For my classic readers, let’s keep going…