Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of performance through strong human relations, team building, and Goala GV. This is the Seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host Paul Fellavaledo.
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Seven Minute Leadership Podcasts, Episode four to seventy five. Today, I want to share something personal about my leadership style, something that started out as a temporary fix during COVID and turned into one of the best leadership moves I've ever made. For fifteen years, I sat in an office, and like most leaders, it was where I got my work done. If I needed quiet time, I closed the door. If I wanted to
be accessible, I left it open. And yes, plenty of problems, questions, and conversations walked through that door. It worked and I got a lot done. But in twenty twenty everything changed. COVID hit and we had to protect our crews from unnecessary exposure. That meant separating management from field staff. My office was converted into a bedroom so that the crews could have safe space at night instead of doubling up on sleeping arrangements. And suddenly I didn't have an office anymore.
Where did I land in the conference room? The biggest room on the ground floor. My chair was against the wall. I had a clear view of the doors and windows, and more importantly, my people had a clear view of me. The moment they walked in for the start of their shift, what started as a crisis solution turned into a complete leadership philosophy shift. Almost six years later, I haven't moved
back upstairs. Why because being in the conference room has taught me something I want every leader to think about. Your physical presence shapes your leadership presence. When I sit in the most visible, approachable, open room in the building, I'm sending a message without saying a single word. I'm telling my people I'm here. You don't need to knock, you don't need to wonder if I'm available, You can
walk right in. That creates an atmosphere where conversations start naturally, where training happens spontaneously, and where trust is built one hello at a time. So let's be honest. Some leaders hide. They bury themselves behind a giant monitor, stacks of paperwork, or a closed office door. They think they're being productive, but what their team sees is distance. What their team feels is hesitation to approach them in distance never builds culture.
Minimalist set up Now, a laptop, an iPad and an old school composition notebook isn't just lighter on my desk, It's lighter on my leadership. I'm not stuck in the chair lost in spreadsheets all day. I'm engaged, available, and more productive because all eyes are on me. And when your team can see you, they're reminded that you see them. So here's my challenge to you. Look at your office. Is it an open door or is it a wall between you and your people? Could you step out into
a more visible, approachable space. Maybe it's moving your desk, Maybe it's spending half the day working in the common area. Maybe it's ditching some of the clutter that keeps you glued to one spot. Because leadership isn't about the walls you work behind. It's about the presence you bring to the people in front of you. My office doesn't have four walls anymore. In that that's exactly how I like it. This has been the seven minute Leadership podcast, and I thank you for listening.
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