Your open door is a trap

Remember last week, when we talked about the invisible metaphors running (or ruining) your leadership? Here is one of the most common: the beloved "open door" policy.

It sounds enlightened. It feels democratic. It is, more often than not, a disaster.

The open door has two failure modes, and they are opposites.

The first is that most of your people are too intimidated to walk through it. I know, I know, you think you’re super nice, but you also hold their career in your hands. You say the door’s open, but the power differential means that "come anytime" translates to "I will reluctantly do that only when it's urgent enough to justify the risk." So the door stays open, and the people stay away, and you congratulate yourself on being approachable while the real problems fester in silence.

The second is that a small number of people use it constantly. They camp in your doorway and hover over your shoulder. They bring you decisions they could make themselves, conflicts they could resolve, and updates you don't need. And because you said the door was open, you feel obliged to engage. Your day fills with interactions that feel generous but are actually corrosive, because every minute you spend handling someone else's solvable problem is a minute you are not doing the work only you can do.

They are prioritising their comfort or their convenience – not your impact. And that’s kind of fair... it’s your job to prioritise your impact.

The alternative is not a closed door, though. It’s a designed door... structured access: specific times, clear purposes, and the explicit expectation that people bring you decisions you need to make, not decisions they want you to make for them.

Last week we said the metaphor you don't know you're using controls your options. The open door policy makes you think accessibility equals good leadership... hmmm...

Replace your open door with a system. Your people will get better access to the version of you they actually need.

If you need support designing boundaries that protect your impact rather than deplete it, drop me a note.

Until next week,

Madeleine

I help accomplished professionals untangle difficult career questions so they can thrive in work and life.

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