The Open Door

Leaders love to say "my door is always open." It sounds generous. Accessible.

But here's what an always-open door actually creates: a line. Every time someone walks through with a question and you give them the answer, you've taught them that the fastest path runs through you.

So they come back. And again. And your open door isn't great leadership. It's a bottleneck.

They're not coming because they need help. They're coming because you trained them to.

The shift isn't closing the door. It's changing what happens when someone walks through it. Try "what options are you considering?" instead of "here's what I'd do."

An open door should be an invitation to think — not a shortcut to your answer.