You’ve likely heard of leaders saying they have an open-door policy. I think every leader I have ever worked for or with has claimed to have such a policy. I say “claim” because simply saying you have one doesn’t actually make it true. It’s not enough to just say you have an open-door policy; as a leader, you have to earn it. While your door may be open, it’s a problem if no one walks through it or is reluctant to do so. You have to create an environment where employees feel comfortable coming to see you. In other words, you have to earn a real open-door policy.