Why an open door policy can still leave people out
Telling the team your door is always open sounds welcoming. But it relies on people coming to you, and the ones you most need to hear from are often the least likely to.
THE QUICK ANSWER
Saying “my door is always open” does not make you approachable if nobody walks through it. It puts the burden of starting the conversation on the most nervous person in the team, so the person you most need to hear from never comes, and you are the last to know something is wrong. The fix is to go to them with one specific question instead of offering a general invitation.
GO DEEPER
Moving from invitation to approach
An open door policy feels generous and fair. It signals that anyone can raise anything at any time, and it seems to leave the choice with the employee. Many managers assume that if nobody comes in, there is nothing that needs raising.
In practice, the policy favours confident people. Those who are anxious, new or unsure whether their concern is big enough rarely make the first move. The result is that the most important issues often stay hidden, and problems reach the manager late, if at all.
The video’s fix is to stop waiting by the door and walk to them instead. Rather than one general invitation, ask one specific question that is easy to answer. A practical start is to pick one quiet person this week and go to them directly.
The specific question does the real work. “Anything on your mind?” is almost as easy to brush aside as an open door, whereas a question about a particular project or obstacle gives people something concrete to respond to. Keep the open door as well; it simply should not be the only route in.
KEY TAKEAWAY
An open door only helps people who are confident enough to use it. Go to the quiet ones yourself, with a specific question.
TEST YOURSELF
