My Door Was Always Open… But Nobody Knocked

For years I wore “busy” like a badge of honour.
If my schedule was overflowing, if I was “flat out,” I told myself that must mean I was doing something right.

And like so many leaders, I’d say: “My door is always open.”

But here’s the uncomfortable truth.
Nobody knocked.

Not because they didn’t have things to say.
But because they thought I was too busy.

That meant I was the last to know:

• Problems that could have been solved early.

• Issues bubbling under the surface.

• Even good news worth celebrating.

And that’s how culture starts to slip — not in the big, obvious ways, but in the small everyday moments when someone thinks: “I won’t bother them.”

The Turning Point

One day it clicked for me: words weren’t enough.
Telling people my door was open wasn’t the same as showing them I was truly available.

So I made a change.

I stuck “Be Present” notes everywhere:

• On my computer.

• On my desk phone.

• Along the edge of my desk.

Wherever I looked, I couldn’t escape the reminder.

And I made myself a promise:
If someone knocked, I stopped.
Because whatever it was, it mattered to them — and that made it my job to listen.

From Suspicion to Trust

The first couple of times, people looked at me with suspicion.
As if to say: “What’s the catch? Since when do you have time for me?”

But it didn’t take long for the shift to happen.

Slowly, people realised I genuinely meant it.
They started knocking again.
Conversations flowed.
I picked up on issues earlier.
I celebrated good news sooner.
And trust began to deepen.

Here’s the funny thing — nobody ever knew the stickers were there.
All they felt was that I had time for them.

The Impact

Culturally, it was a turning point.
The business felt lighter, more connected, more human.

Morally, it changed me too.
I realised leadership isn’t about filling your schedule or always being “busy.”
It’s about creating space — especially when it feels inconvenient.

Because culture isn’t built in boardrooms or strategy decks.
It’s built in the knock on the door.

Takeaway

If you’ve ever told your team “my door is always open,” ask yourself this: do they actually believe it?

Because if they don’t, you’re not just missing interruptions.
You’re missing the very moments that build trust, loyalty, and culture.