The Consequences of Stress and Burnout: Teetering on the “Glass Cliff”
Most of us are familiar with the term 'glass ceiling' - the unseen barrier hindering women from top corporate roles. Yet, there's a lesser-known but equally critical concept: the 'glass cliff'. This metaphor extends the challenge beyond just reaching leadership positions. It's about the precariousness that often accompanies these roles, especially for Black women and women of color.
At times of corporate turmoil, it's not uncommon for companies to appoint women, to steer the ship. This is the glass cliff in action - a phenomenon where women ascend to power during a crisis or downturn, placing them in inherently unstable positions with a higher failure risk.
It's a distressing trend where women are often viewed as possessing the 'soft skills' needed for difficult transitions or image revamping. Yet, once stability is achieved, these women are frequently replaced, sometimes irrespective of their performance, perpetuating a cycle of instability and unfair expectations.
Research starkly highlights this issue: women and people of color are more likely to be appointed to struggling companies than White males. This pattern isn't just about filling leadership roles; it's often an attempt to project a commitment to diversity and inclusion, regardless of the company's actual stance.
2020 marked a significant spike in this trend, as organizations scrambled to diversify in response to a national reckoning on racism. But these appointments often came with a catch.
Black women may gain positional authority, but real power transfer, including executing their vision and building their team, is frequently lacking. The result? A role fraught with unsustainable workloads, lack of support, and unrecognized efforts, leading to burnout and frustration.
Tragically, the consequences can be severe. The recent heartbreaking case of Dr. Antoinette Candia-Bailey, whose experience of bullying and severe mistreatment at Lincoln University-Missouri culminated in her suicide, starkly illustrates the extreme pressures faced under such conditions.
Data from Lean In corroborates this disturbing trend, showing that women leaders of all races are leaving their jobs at higher rates than men, citing barriers to advancement, lack of recognition for their work, and a need for more flexibility.
If you grappling with any of this, there are two alternatives. First, decide whether you’re tired of trying to prove your worth and value and are ready to transition to entrepreneurship if that has been calling you. You, sister, have TONS of brilliance to bring to the table. Your impact can be greater if you’re steering your own ship.
BUT. Know that entrepreneurship is also a journey not for the faint of heart! If you KNOW that is what is destined for you, with aligned support like what I offer in my Unveil Your Brilliance program, I can help you transition with more ease and confidence and hone in on WHAT you can offer with your expertise and gifts.
The second option is to consider leaving the company where the pressure to perform is literally making you sick to the point of burnout. Unfortunately, many executives in demanding positions are dealing with this reality.
But I’m here to encourage you to think bigger and brighter for yourself. You deserve SO much more. And the right role at the right company can be life-changing. LITERALLY.
This is also an area I help so many female executives navigate with my leadership coaching in Unveil Your Brilliance—the transition to the new role/position, where you’re seen, valued, and appreciated for what YOU bring to your arena.
I had a prospect ask me recently if it mattered what sector they were in. And the answer is an unequivocal NO!
My brilliance is being able to see YOUR full power, prowess, and purpose regardless of your sector, and guide, support, and champion you in your transition, bringing my intuitive empathetic gifts, my superb ideation and brainstorming skills, my coaching around mindset and confidence building, and all my thought leadership around career elevation, visibility, personal branding, self-advocacy and more.
Trying to lone wolf your way amidst your career or business challenges is not the way to soar and thrive. In fact, it can hurt you leaving you stuck, beset with self-doubt, and running limiting beliefs around in your mind that will never get you to where you want to go.
If you TRULY are looking to level up and evolve into your most ideal posture that channels your full authority, autonomy, and agency, this year, this seed of an investment in my program will reap untold rewards.
But don't just take my word for it. Check out what a few of my clients have said about how Unveil Your Brilliance has helped them.
You can also read more about the program on my website.
If this is calling to you, don’t second guess or overthink it. All that is required is to fill out this Discovery Session form so we can schedule a complimentary Zoom call to explore whether this is the infusion of support you need to get to your best. No pressure!
Questions? Feel free to reply to this email!
To your continued unveiling friend!
Natalie Jobity, the Brilliance Unveiler and Founder of The Unveiled Way is a Leadership Coach, Speaker & Leader. She empowers heart-centered, high-achieving visionary women seeking to make their divinely designed impact, to level up their leadership posture so they are positioned to lead authentically and unapologetically in their arena. The Unveiled Way’s core pillar is empowerment and impact. Through Natalie’s individual and group coaching programs, the Women’s Catalyst Circle events, LinkedIn Lives, books, and empowerment products, she helps women unveil the full gamut of their brilliance.
Natalie Jobity is an ICF-certified coach, bestselling author, mentor, speaker, and intuitive creative, who recently published her second book titled, It’s Your Time to Shine, Girl: Own Your Brilliance, Step into Your Influence, and Lead Like a Trailblazer. This leadership development and empowerment book, and her newest creation, her “She Shines Affirmation & Empowerment Card Deck for Women on the Rise,” will inspire women the world over to step into their purpose, and give them the tips, tools, and techniques needed to succeed and thrive as a woman of influence and lead confidently and unapologetically in their arenas.
Visit Natalie’s website to learn more about how she partners with impact-minded women to propel them forward to step powerfully into their purpose.
Discover your leadership posture and style by taking Natalie’s popular assessment, LeadHer Way Brand Identity Assessment.