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what that really means is that they’re places where men dominate the room, the rules, and the assumptions. If you’re not one of them, you learn quickly which lines not to cross and which stories not to tell. This is how certain behaviour keeps going, not because everyone supports it, but because no one interrupts it. In House of Cards , the Underwoods didn’t act alone. They thrived in an environment that was too afraid or too tired to fight them. That’s not fiction. That’s how it works in real life, too. And when no one says anything, the damage piles up in ways that don’t appear on balance sheets. What Leadership Really Means Leadership doesn’t begin when there’s a crisis. It begins long before that. In how we set expectations. In who we promote. In who we protect.
Frank and Claire don’t just manipulate people; they build a world where manipulation is normal.
In the show, Frank and Claire don’t just manipulate people; they build a world where manipulation is normal. Their power came from others letting things slide, from people choosing not to question them. In real workplaces, this happens too. Companies that claim to value integrity sometimes protect toxic high performers. They ignore red flags because “she’s hitting her numbers” or “he’s been here forever.” They create cultures where the wrong people feel safe and the right people get pushed out. Real leadership sees the early signs and takes them seriously. It doesn’t wait for HR to get a formal complaint. It notices when someone
goes quiet. It pays attention to who’s always smiling and who never speaks in meetings. Most importantly, it makes space for truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. The Mirror We Avoid Harassment and bullying aren’t just bad behavior. They’re reflections of the systems that surround them. Silence protects the wrong things. Manipulation confuses the right ones. The companies that thrive long term won’t be the ones that react well to scandal. They’ll be the ones who notice things before they become a scandal at all. The ones that choose not to look away.
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GLOBAL PAYROLL MAGAZINE ISSUE 16
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