Building trust with an open-door policy

In 2020, the author had the opportunity to lead a team and was inspired by the humble and open approach of the CEO, who implemented an open-door policy to encourage open communication within the organization. An open-door policy is defined as a work environment where employees can freely communicate with anyone, including leadership, without fear of repercussions, thus reducing the chances of a toxic culture. The policy fosters collaboration, reduces friction in problem-solving, and encourages more ideas from different organizational layers. However, it may also lead to challenges such as difficulty in prioritizing ideas and potential distractions for leadership. The CEO from the author's experience took several steps to nurture this culture, including removing office barriers, hosting Q&A sessions, and implementing feedback mechanisms, which ultimately improved employee retention and customer satisfaction. Establishing an effective open-door policy requires strategic planning and persistence, with a focus on removing communication barriers and ensuring leadership actively listens to employees.