5 leadership lessons

from House of Cards

The latest season of Netflixs popular show may be
melodramatic, but theres a lot to learn from all the
backstabbing that plays out.
As many of us start binge watching the third season of
Netflixs House of Cards, which aired last week, its clear that top
dogs from Washington to Silicon Valley and everywhere in between
can identify, at least to some extent, with the main character, Frank
Underwood. The scheming politico obsessed with keeping his post
in the Oval Office has few, if any, friends, and countless enemies and
frenemies, but viewers actually have much to learn from
Underwood.
Even though he would probably have said of this piece, If you need
a magazine to tell you how to be a good leader, then you dont
belong in the leaders chair at all, the show serves as a rich source
of leadership advice for ambitious men and women looking to
navigate and conquer the corridors of power not just in politics,
but in the business world, too.
So here are 5 leadership lessons from House of Cards:
Never leave your wingman (or woman)

A central arc of House of Cards is the love-hate relationship between

Frank and his wife Claire, who represent the ultimate yin and yang
of a power partnership two quirky souls who echo each others
neuroses and potential to help the partnership reach great heights.
Yet when either of them feels abandoned, that glorious marriage
quickly turns into a destructive dance of betrayal. In the current
season, Frank strips Claire of her ambassadorship to the UN for his
own gain. Even though she agrees, it sows the seed of distrust
between the two and risks losing Frank his only real ally and
confidant, not to mention his biggest source of moral strength. So
remember that no matter what the stakes or what happens, never
leave your wingman (or woman). Flying solo may be satisfying for
the ego but a great co-pilot can help you weather much bigger
storms and fly much further than you can by yourself.
Be careful what you reveal, even to your friends
In the first two seasons, Frank confides sensitive information to an
investigative reporter who is willing to help him destroy his
opponents on Capitol Hill. But when the reporter becomes a threat
to himself, he has to take drastic measures to silence her. In the new
season, he fears that a former right-hand man might betray him by
selling incriminating information about Claire to a political
challenger. When playing power games, indiscretions arenever a
good idea. That doesnt mean you should harm anyone to protect
yourself, but smart leaders know that even trusted friends can
sometimes become enemies, and therefore hold their cards close to
their vest at all times. Unlike Frank, dont give ammunition to
anyone who could use it against you on a rainy day, even if the
short-term gain is tempting.
Treat your subordinates with respect
One of the guilty pleasures of the show is watching Frank be the
natural tyrant that he is and keep everyone, especially his

underlings, under strict control. Its a fantasy most of us have but

never get to live out (thankfully). It also, however, has its limits,
which Frank discovers to his detriment when he publicly humiliates
his choice for vice presidential running mate and the former protg
turns against him in a spectacular way. The lesson here is that while
its necessary for leaders to exert authority and demand loyalty, its
also necessary for them to treat everyone with respect and dignity.
The moment that line is crossed, even the most diehard of
supporters can become bitter nemeses, and even the most capable of
leaders cant perform without a dedicated team.
Be a problem solver
Frank Underwood doesnt waste much time feeling bad about
setbacks. In a perfect display of this crucial ability of a leader to find
solutions instead of complaining about problems, when his partys
leadership refuses to back him for a Presidential run in 2016, Frank
turns the tables by dropping his immediate demand and focusing all
his energy on an ambitious plan to create jobs for every American.
His calculation is simple but potent. When confronted with an
impossible obstacle, he decides to walk around the obstacle (by
courting voters directly) instead of trying to punch his way through
it. This episode, like others in previous seasons, demonstrates
clearly that Frank is not just resilient but capable of finding even
greater opportunity in a setback, as his America Works plan evolves
into a potential legacy (if not necessarily a home run) over the
course of the season. Thats great leadership.
Nothing lasts forever
In clever symbolism, the third season of House of Cardsshows
Buddhist monks painstakingly create an intricate and beautiful

mosaic with colored powder, only to wipe away the whole display
when theyre done. This mirrors Frank and Claires relationship,
which attains great complexity and beauty at times, only to crumble
a part at others
The fact that nothing lasts forever is one that Frank doesnt grasp.
He alternately stumbles and blazes through his career, but is unable
to find balance. He makes unnecessary mistakes because at some
level he maintains the illusion of immortality. The best leaders
realize that they are only as good as their performance and that
arrogance is a fatal flaw. It makes you careless, self-centered, noncompromising, and prone to impulsive action which in turn can
lose you allies, create more enemies, and pave the way for your
downfall.
Without giving away anything, Frank finds himself at just such a
crossroads by the end of this season. The question is whether he will
modify his ways or continue to hurtle obliviously, possibly to
nowhere? But then, Frank Underwood would probably never read
an article like this, so what will happen in season four is anyones
guess.
Sanjay Sanghoee is a business commentator. He has worked at
investment banks Lazard Freres and Dresdner Kleinwort
Wasserstein, as well as at hedge fund Ramius Capital. He holds an
MBA from Columbia Business School.