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Open Door Policy

Here are the questions filed under this category. To read Ken's advice on any item, click on the link "Read Ken's Answer."


Most managers here keep their doors open unless they need privacy for meetings or phone calls. I recently hired a manager who has her door closed almost all the time. The employees who report to her are concerned, and so am I. I have discussed this with her, and she says she does not work well with outside noises and is more productive with the door closed. How can I deal with this?
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I am a new executive secretary to a chief officer of a major company. When he was brought on, he brought many former associates with him. His style at his old company was "open door," but now he requires time with the door closed. His associates are having a hard time with this policy, and part of my job is as gatekeeper. My boss says "they will get used to it," but they go in when I am away from my desk. Without being a nag, how do I best handle this situation?
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My manager told me that as part of my managerial responsibilities, I need to spend more time with my employees. I admit that I tend to stay in my office most of the day, and the reason is that I have so much work to do. My door is open if my employees need to see me, and that's about all I can do now. Do you have any suggestions?
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Top management in our company frequently tells us how available they are, and they place major importance on their open door policy. I went to senior management for a particular problem, and my boss blew up at me for doing this. Did I do something wrong?
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The owner of our company has an open-door policy, but whenever any of us meet with him, he doesn't listen. He is friendly, but he always has a reason for doing things his way. Is there a way to change this?
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I have two employees in my department who have not been performing well, and I gave both of them poor evaluations. They got together and complained to my manager. He believed everything they said, and he called me in and criticized me. What should I do now?
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My job responsibilities include dealing with employees from several departments. Most employees either call ahead or set an appointment online, but certain employees just show up. I tell them I am busy, but they still sit down and take a lot of my time on minor issues. How can I deal with them without sounding mean?
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I cannot get my manager’s attention. When I meet in his office, he is on his Bluetooth and using his computer. If it’s not that, he is taking phone calls and even talking with people who drop by his office. What can I do to have an actual conversation with him?
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One of my employees goes to my boss whenever she wants to voice her complaints or concerns. After these meetings, my boss calls me to go over what she said. This is a big waste of time, and I have told this employee to come to me first, but she still goes directly to him. How can I change this?
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