Leadership Essentials: Approachability - Do people feel safe bringing you problems?
- James Rule
- Dec 5, 2025
- 2 min read
We often focus on vision, direction, and performance, but here’s a question that every leader needs to ask:
Do people feel safe bringing you problems?
No matter how strategic or experienced you are, your impact will be limited if people are too intimidated or unsure to tell you the truth.
You can say you have an open door policy, but if people don’t feel psychologically safe walking through it… what’s the point?
5 Hidden signals that make leaders less approachable
Always rushing. If you’re constantly on the move, people won’t “bother” you.
Multitasking in conversations. Checking your phone says “you’re not the priority.”
Only showing up when there’s a problem. You become linked with stress, not support.
Fix it energy. Jumping to solutions too fast shuts down trust and ownership.
Body language that says ‘No Entry.’ Folded arms, no eye contact, constant frown they all add up.
Approachability isn’t just what you say; it’s what you signal.
Ask yourself: What happens in a room when you walk in? Do people relax or tense up? Do conversations open up or shut down?
If you don’t like the answer, well that’s where your growth starts.
Practical Ways to Build Approachability
In The Lonely Leader Podcast (links below) I share a number of steps to enhance your approachability. Here are five to get you started:
Build regular check ins with your people, not just reviews.
Listen with full attention, no phone, no typing.
Use people’s names often. It builds warmth and trust.
Recognise effort, not just results.
Share your own learning and mistakes, vulnerability builds connection.
Your Leadership Challenge
Pick one person you lead. Make contact with no agenda. Just check in. Ask how they’re doing and what challenge they’re working through. Then simply listen.
That small moment could open a much bigger door. Reflect on what you gain from this simple process and commit to repeat it with other members of your team.
If this newsletter resonates please listen to the full episode of The Lonely Leader Podcast for a deeper dive into Approachability, and how to build a culture where people feel safe to speak truth to leadership.
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