Exceptional Hill Teams Start With an Exceptional Culture
The first few weeks and months after the election, new Congressional offices are swamped. They have to hire staff, map out communication goals, and even figure out where the Member is going to live.
In these early days, it is easy to be overwhelmed by all the short-term decisions. But according to Jeremy Deutsch, “The most important thing is to really focus on culture and developing a team that can help you achieve success.”
Jeremy Deutsch has decades of experience working on the Hill including serving as a Chief of Staff to a member as well as Chief of Staff of the House Republican Caucus. During his time as a Congressional Chief of Staff, Jeremy collaborated with his Member and the rest of the staff to establish their value slogan: “Have fun while you S.E.R.V.E.”
What did S.E.R.V.E. stand for?
Seek excellence - “Our ability to make sure that everything we are doing up on Capitol Hill meets the level our constituents expect from us.”
Everybody matters - “Whether you are an intern, staff assistant, Chief of Staff, or the Member of Congress, every single person on the team matters and every single person has a critical role to deliver excellence to the constituents back home.”
Responsibly own it - “If there is an issue or if there is a problem and it is in your lane, you need to responsibly own it and not blame someone else for it.”
Vigilant integrity - “Whether we are in the office or out of the office, we are not only a reflection of the Member of Congress, we’re also a reflection of the institution.”
Embrace change - “Embracing change is not being afraid to bring in tools, to bring in innovation, and to bring in different types of platforms to help us measure our success.”
Culture Starts with Values
Formalizing values can make a world of difference in managing an effective team within the demanding environment of Congress.
S.E.R.V.E. was integral to the success of Jeremy’s team because it established the office's mission, formalized priorities, and set behavioral and managerial expectations within the office. The slogan inspired and motivated the staff, but also formed the foundation for any hiring or performance evaluation processes.
Every new Member and the staff they hire will have their own goals, priorities, and personalities that can help frame their office’s unique value system.
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