How Approachable Leaders Build Stronger Teams

Last week, during a coaching session, a senior director shared a frustrating experience about her manager: “He’s great, but not really approachable.” 

After digging deeper, we unpacked what made him unapproachable. It came down to three common patterns that I see with many leaders:

1. When focused on tasks, he appeared too busy for interruptions
2. Back-to-back scheduling left no room for spontaneous conversations or questions
3. His discomfort with small talk came across as unfriendly or disinterested

Do any of these resonate with you?

Becoming more accessible doesn’t mean having an open-door policy that destroys your productivity. 

Instead, it’s about intentional practices that signal your availability and approachability to your team.

So, what specifically can you do?

Here are three proven leadership strategies that you can leverage to be more accessible:

1. Design visibility into your routine

One manufacturing executive I worked with started taking her laptop to the communal area for 30 minutes each morning.

She didn’t explicitly invite interruptions, but her presence in a shared space made quick questions possible. Within weeks, this simple shift transformed her team’s perception of her availability.

2. Master the micro-check-in

Accessibility doesn’t require hours of conversation.

A VP client trained himself to ask one genuinely curious question when passing team members in the hallway: “How’s that client implementation going?” or “Did you get what you needed from the marketing team?”

These brief exchanges built relationships while respecting everyone’s time.

3. Acknowledge and normalize outreach

When team members do approach you, explicitly thank them for bringing issues to your attention.

A simple “I’m glad you flagged this for me” reinforces that you want to be approached.

One tech leader I coached took this further by periodically saying in team meetings, “Remember, if you’re stuck on something for more than 30 minutes, reach out. That’s what I’m here for.”

How do you know if you’re becoming more approachable? 

Watch for these signs:

• You hear about small problems before they become big ones
• Team members bring you both challenges AND ideas
• You’re getting a steadier stream of questions rather than occasional floods
• People seem more relaxed and candid in your presence

Being an approachable leader creates an environment and office culture where information flows freely and problems can be solved efficiently.

What’s one small step you could take to become more approachable to your team?