4 reasons your workplace should have an open-door policy

Global – The modern corporate world requires management to always be aware of what is happening with their team. Employees also have certain expectations. They want to work under leaders who are willing and ready to solve any problems they may have.

An open door policy is the solution in both cases. It helps managers understand their teams and makes employees feel like part of the company.

What does the open door policy mean?

An open door policy is for the senior managers of an organization to leave the doors of their offices open to all employees. The policy encourages employees to reach out to any senior manager when they have workplace issues that need to be addressed.

In essence, the open door policy breaks down the accessibility barriers of the traditional chain of command. It provides an opportunity for open communication where employees and managers can effectively discuss and resolve issues in the workplace.

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1. Understand employee attitudes.

The open door policy creates a favorable environment for open communication. This effectively allows employees to be more open about work-related issues and challenges they face.

2. Higher level of involvement.

One of the best ways to keep your day-to-day operations running smoothly is to stay up to date with what’s happening on the main floor. Unfortunately, in a workplace where management doors remain closed, employees are hesitant to hire their superiors. As a result, many opinions and concerns go unheeded.

In addition, a Gallup study found that engaged teams were 17% more productive and 21% more profitable than unengaged teams.

3. Quick access to key information and unique ideas.

In a “traditional” workplace where the chain of command is strictly enforced, information usually passes through several hands before reaching the final decision maker. Thus, such a system can significantly slow down the flow of information.

An open door culture in the workplace solves these problems. Managers will get first-hand information about what’s going on. And because employees are responsible for most of the day-to-day operations, they understand the workflow better than anyone else. This means they can offer unique insights on how to improve operations.

4. Improve relationships in the workplace.

Keeping management doors open, both literally and figuratively, cultivates a culture of openness and transparency. It breaks down the walls of superiority and improves relationships in the workplace.