First, let’s define what house of cards means. The literal definition of the term a house of cards refers to a structure made out of stacked playing cards that stands upright due to balance and friction. No other support means are used, such as tape, glue, paper clips, etc. The idiom house of cards, not to be confused with the Netflix series House of Cards, describes a precarious endeavour. It is a very colourful way of saying a system, structure, or situation that is insubstantial, shaky, and likely to fail or collapse.
When applied to working as a political staffer, I interpret the phrase as instability in the workplace, threatening project completion. This could entail not everyone doing their lion’s share of the work. A severe lack of communication and authoritarian leadership stunts the critical delivery of projects. For example, imagine a political campaign where the staff members are not on the same page, and there is a lack of direction and clear communication from the leadership. This can lead to confusion and a lack of progress, making the campaign feel like it is on the brink of collapse.
To overcome this perception, managers can take the following steps:
- Allowing your team to take risks: This encourages the rest of the team to find innovative solutions to existing problems. In many ways, success in politics is linked to thinking outside the box. A political campaign, for example, that is prepared to take chances and attempt new strategies is more likely to stand out and establish momentum with people.
- Sharing out the workload: Carefully defining roles and delegating tasks to a diverse range of people enables the operation to work more cohesively. And when everyone knows their responsibilities are, it ultimately leads to an effective and productive team.
- Avoid micro-managing: This can be off-putting and can alienate staff instead of being encouraging. Managers should instead empower their team members to take responsibility of their work and make decisions. This can aid in the development of trust and respect among team members, resulting in a more motivated team. Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign is an example of a well-run, cohesive, and effective political operation. A key component of the campaign’s success was the autonomy and empowerment given to staff members.