The purpose of this paper is to offer a lesson learned on the true meaning of the open-door policy and the overlooked benefits. The open-door policy is standard across all military organizations and required by the Department of Defense (DOD) to maintain healthy organizations that are receptive to bottom up feedback. The understanding of the open-door policy for many command teams ends there. Overlooked are the benefits of having an actual open office door leading into a public area frequented by Soldiers of all ranks. Command teams often allow themselves to become distracted and overwhelmed by the chatter that happens in communal areas. Leaders close their doors to the conversations while displaying a policy letter that encourages use of the open-door policy by subordinates. Doors serve multiple purposes, the primary one being to close out others. A closed door is an obstacle to effective leadership and separates leaders from those they serve.

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