The Myth of the Open Door

 

We’ve all heard it:
“My door is always open.”

It sounds generous.
Approachable.
Modern.

But here’s the truth no one wants to say out loud:
The open door is often a performance.
A carefully staged illusion of accessibility.
A trap dressed in hospitality.

Because being constantly “available” doesn’t make you a better leader.
It makes you a leaking one.
And eventually—an empty one.

Leadership isn’t about being a 24/7 energy supply.
It’s about discernment.
Boundaries.
Knowing the difference between being open and being exposed.

We’ve confused emotional labor with leadership.
We’ve taught ourselves to believe that if we’re not always answering, fixing, listening, or saving, we’re failing.

But there is a cost to letting everyone in.

Ask yourself:
Is your openness authentic—or is it obligation?
Is your generosity chosen—or is it conditioned?

Because “approachable leadership” can easily become a mask.
A smiling, nodding, never-saying-no mask.
And masks, even kind ones, are heavy.

What if your leadership wasn’t about always being available—but about knowing when to say:
Not now.
Not this way.
Not at the expense of my own peace.

Real presence doesn’t need to prove itself with constant proximity.
The most impactful leaders often operate from intentional distance.
They don’t let everyone in—because they know what it costs when everyone has access to your energy but not your protection.

So maybe the question isn’t:
“How open are you?”
But rather—
“What is the cost of your openness—and who is paying it?”

Leadership is not a hallway.
You are not a revolving door.

Let people knock.
Let silence answer.
And let your impact speak louder than your availability.