“We have an open-door policy here.”
How many times have you told someone this statement because you want them to know you are available to listen? Often, this is a first step in creating a communication culture shift in a business or organization. We truly want to be open minded and hear what others have to say. The new ideas – the concerns – the interactions – the list goes on. As a leader, we want people to come to us, be honest, and connect.
Or do we?
The second step involves breaking down the barriers between “us and them.” Is there truly an open-door policy or is this a catchphrase? Employees are often wondering about the validity of these words and this communication approach. Sometimes when we open our door to employees, we still have unspoken agreements. Agreements that teach our employees that they can only say certain things – that we only care about certain matters – that they need to remain within a specified boundary when they walk through our open door because we, the management, are the “us” and they, the employee, are the “them.”
This month, think about what it means to have an open-door policy. Really care, and be ready to live up to it so that when this approach is being used at work, employees can see the phrase as sincere and real, rather than mere words.
