The Wall Street Journal is all abuzz about Barbara Desoer who has recently been asked by Ken Lewis, Bank of America’s CEO, to take over its troubled mortgage business.  Not only is the mortgage lending business generally in trouble due to the state of the US economy but Bank of America’s mortgage business has the added burden of trying to swallow the problems of the recently acquired Countrywide Financial.  Carol Hymowitz’s Front Line blog asks readers to comment on their experiences regarding taking on high risk roles that have afforded them an opportunity to advance. 

One woman’s story (see the comment by risk taker)  reminded me about the glass cliff research I wrote about  a couple of weeks ago in conjunction with a post about Erin Callan.  While she writes that she did the right thing for herself and that it was worth it, she also describes her boss as “difficult”, noting, “when things went right he tended to take the credit”.   She also is very clear that there was a high personal cost.

I’m glad it worked out for her — yet I’m wondering what opportunities to negotiate she may have missed?

Two of her male colleauges had turned down the job, there were both people issues and strategy issues to deal with as well as a difficult boss.  She may have had more leverage than she realized - to ask for the things that may have made her life easier. 

Perhaps she could have negotiated for an senior HR professional to consult with her (and to handle as much of the documentation as possible) regarding the people who had to be redeployed?  Perhaps she might have negotiated a different reporting relationship? Perhaps she could have gotten a coach (even for a short time) to help her think through her strategy and build a plan?  Anyway, you get the idea.  Negotiating for those things makes a risky situation a lot less risky - and a lot less stressful.

PS: I have no doubt that if any one can turn around Bank of America’s mortgage business, Barbara Desoer is the one to do it.  She is an inspiring leader - and she endorsed Her Place at the Table!

TAGS: corner office, new to the job, playing to win, Risk-taking, The Wall Street Journal, women and careers, Women at Work, women leaders, women role models