How an open-door policy can help you to get the most out of your team
An open-door policy is where senior managers leave their office doors open (figuratively or literally) in order to be easily accessible for all employees.
Breaking down the traditional chain of command, an open-door policy essentially provides employees with a space to voice their opinions and concerns.
An open-door policy indicates that managers value the ideas, suggestions, and concerns of their employees.
Companies who don’t incorporate an open-door policy are at risk of isolating their managers, missing performance issues, and damaging team morale—all elements that could wound a business.
Such a policy is therefore an asset to any business. Here are the benefits of having an open-door policy and how it can help you to get the most out of your team.
Encouraging effective communication
Just 7% of workers feel that communication is accurate, timely and open where they work. Fostering an open-door policy is a key way to increase effective communication in your workplace.
Having an open-door policy that incorporates two-way communication can help employees to share opinions, concerns, and ideas with their managers. Whilst communicating, it’s important to listen and provide constructive feedback. As a result, your employees will feel both heard and valued and will have a higher degree of trust in you.
Allows for access to information
Managers who don’t adopt an open-door policy are at risk of becoming isolated from their team. In addition, employees who see a closed door may not want to interrupt, even if it’s urgent. Managers can therefore be at a further risk of missing key information that could disrupt their department.
Allowing employees to pop in for a quick chat or come to you with ideas and issues will keep you in the loop of all matters. An open-door policy therefore allows managers to have a better understanding of the day-to-day issues within their business, allowing them to stay one step ahead.
Promoting better working relationships
Keeping doors open promotes a culture of openness and transparency. Adopting an open-door policy can promote better working relationships—a vital component for the success of any business.
Employees who have positive open-door interactions with managers will come away feeling valued, boosting their morale, their trust, and their job satisfaction. Having employees who feel valued will also help to keep your employee turnover as low as possible.
An open-door policy can also eradicate the ‘us and them’ attitude. Staff who can freely approach managers will no longer feel shut out or kept in the dark. Eliminating such tensions allow employees and managers to work closer together and will create a more positive company culture.
Higher levels of engagement
Employees who benefit from having an open-door policy are much more likely to be more productive and engaged in their day-to-day work. For example, an employee who can freely ask for advice will be privy to insights and knowledge that may improve their job performance.
As a result, such a policy helps employees to enhance their skills, increasing their job satisfaction, thus increasing their engagement, and thus boosting their productivity. All these elements will lead to a positive work atmosphere, better teamwork, and an overall higher quality of work from your staff.
Help solve issues as they arise
Only 42% of employees say that they have confidence in their leadership during times of disruption. With an open-door policy you can significantly increase this percentage, enabling your employees to have full confidence in your ability to solve issues as and when they arise.
As an open-door policy allows you to be more involved with the day-to-day running of your business, you will be aware of any potential issues lurking beneath the surface. This will enable you to solve problems pre-emptively (perhaps through a quick group message) rather than reactively after they have already become large complications.
Create a positive environment with an open-door policy
As stated, an open-door policy is an asset to any business. Not only can it help you to get the most out of your team, but it can also create managers who are in touch with the day-to-day running of your business and who are focused on promoting better working relationships.
Fostering an open-door policy will allow your employees a safe space to voice their opinions and enhance their job knowledge. As a result, your workplace will become a more positive, proactive, and efficient environment, encouraging your business to bloom.