Q. How else can
you make yourself
more approachable?
Little things — I
learned a trick
many, many years
ago, and, if you ever
come visit me in my
office, my desk is
against the wall and it’s not
in front of me. I very rarely
sit at the head of a table.
When I have a meeting with
somebody, I’ll spin that chair
around and be open with
them to get from behind that
big dividing line that’s there.
I think that opens you up a
little more.
To be seen on the floor, to
come through the front door
… to have a cup of coffee in
the break room and not have a cup of coffee in your
office. Those are things that
make you a little more
accessible.
Q. What is one thing you
would advise other leaders to
avoid doing if they want to
become approachable?
Be selective when you are
approachable. I think if you
made the decision to be approachable, you need to
be approachable all the
time. You can’t say, ‘OK,
today I’m approachable,
tomorrow I’m not. I’m going
to be approachable between
9 and 10.’
I do have bad days, and I
think that it depends if you
set the tone right away, people know when not to
approach you.
If I come in the door, I
think a lot of people can
read you if you have something on your mind. If you’re
going to make that commitment to being approachable,
you have to be approachable and you have to realize
there are going to be those
stumbling things along the
way — from wanting an
interview, to asking for a
day off or a suggestion on
how to run your business,
any of those things. It’s a big
commitment.
I think that if you’re not
into it, there are many times
where I’ll just say, ‘You know
what, my day is over at 2
(p.m.). It’s not good for me
to be here. It’s not good for
my look, it’s not good for the
management style, it’s just
not good for that.’
Or close the door. I think
people respect the fact
when you have the door
closed. I mean, all our doors
have windows here in the
office, and if they are
closed, they can look in and
you put your hand up and
then they turn around and
go away.
HOW TO REACH: Keystone Asset Management Inc., (215) 855-3350 or www.keystonebest.com
