Is Your Open Door Policy Doing More Harm Than Good?

It sounds generous, supportive  the mark of a good leader:

“I’ve got an open-door policy. Come to me anytime.”

But what if keeping your door open all the time… is actually creating more harm than good?

For Nominated Supervisors, being constantly available feels like the right thing to do. We want to be present. Approachable. Supportive. But when your entire day is spent in a swirl of walk-ins, quick questions, and mid-thought interruptions, something important gets lost:
your capacity to lead with intention.

• Instead of creating connection, it can create dependency
• Instead of promoting autonomy, it encourages hand-holding.
• And instead of building trust, it slowly burns you out.

As organisational psychologist Adam Grant reminds us, strong teams are built on givers, not takers. But even givers need structure. Without it, your generous open-door policy can start to attract takers, those who lean too heavily on you instead of developing their own judgment. As a result, your giving causes you to burn out.

So, what’s the alternative?

Scheduled, dependable connection.

That’s the real game-changer.

Proactive, consistent check-ins allow you to stay deeply connected to your team without constant interruptions. They build trust, create predictability, and model what it looks like to manage time and energy with intention.

Even just two weekly touchpoints can shift the dynamic:

• A W.I.P. Meeting (Work in Progress): 20–30 minutes to align on room goals, upcoming priorities, and problem-solving. It’s structured. Focused. And developmental.

• A Pit Stop: A quick 10–15 minute wellbeing check-in. No agenda. Just space to be human. A moment to ask “How are you really going?” and “What’s one thing I can support you with this week?

These aren’t just meetings. It’s scheduled interactions. 

They show your team you care, not just about what gets done, but about how people feel while doing it. And they give you the mental space to step out of the weeds and lead from above the day-to-day.

Let’s be clear, this isn’t about closing yourself off.
It’s about being intentionally available.

But what about when something urgent comes up?

You’re still there.

This isn’t about closing your door or being unavailable.

It’s about setting a rhythm that:

✔ Builds trust
✔ Promotes autonomy
✔ Reduces last-minute chaos
✔ Makes your availability more meaningful

Leadership isn’t measured by how often your door is open…

It’s measured by what happens when your team walks away feeling seen, capable, and ready to lead themselves.