Are you always available?

A leader I worked with prided herself on being available.

Open door.
Fast replies.
Always on.

She thought it was a strength.
But her team saw it differently.

When I asked them what they needed more of, one person said:
"I wish she'd give herself time to think before she responds."

That stopped her.

She wasn't wrong about being available.
She was wrong about what her team actually needed.

Availability means you're reachable.
It doesn't make you present.

Your team doesn't need you on call.
They need you there.

Actually there.

More deliberate.
Less reactive

That's harder than having an open door.
But it's the thing that actually builds trust.