70% of companies have an open door policy.
Seventy percent!
That’s basically every place you’ve ever worked.
The open door policy has been around for a hundred years. I’m not going to give you the reason why it started, but I’ll just tell you that it made sense then and it makes sense now. Because the idea’s really good.
The idea being that “my door is always open. Come talk to me anytime. I want to hear what’s on your mind.”
It says, I’m approachable, I’m accessible. I care about you. I’m the kind of person that you can be open with and trust.
I’ve had open door policies throughout most of my career, I actually believe leaders, when they say they have an open door policy, they mean it.
The intention is good. It’s really good.
Unfortunately, open door policies suck.
Open door policies do not create psychological safety in your company.
They destroy it.
They’re the worst things you can do for your company.
Let me explain why.
