For years, the CEO of Indeed had the worst desk in the whole office. It was by the main entrance in the middle of the floor near some very popular conference rooms. He never explained himself to me, but I inferred it was some combination of humility and wanting to make himself available to people in the company to come talk to him. In all those years, I never once saw anyone walk up to him and start a conversation. Even I only ever did it once, and I’d been at the company for years longer than he had.

This may seem strange. Surely he put himself there so that he could be approached. He removed the physical barrier, but why were people still blocked?

The answer is because the physical barrier wasn’t the only barrier. Consider. You’re an ordinary employee of a multibillion dollar company. The CEO has a lot to think about and do. There’s no way any of your questions or concerns could be more important than what he’s doing right now. Do you want to disturb that? Do you want to risk being the target of his irritation? Even if he’s the most easygoing, good-natured person in the world, he’s still the CEO! Best to leave him alone.

The psychological barrier is nearly impenetrable. There is a significant power dynamic in most American companies between the CEO and most employees. Well-intentioned leaders try to make themselves available. They announce open door policies. What they don’t realize is those aren’t sufficient. They emit a repulsive force, and if they want the average employee to approach, they have to overcome that. They can’t just be available. They have to invite engagement, they have to invite the interruption, they have to invite the conversation. Otherwise it won’t happen.

So why was I the exception? Was I oblivious to the power dynamic? Am I possessed of a steely nerve? Do I have an enormous ego? It’s none of those. That one time I did it, I was anxious and nervous. The only thing that made me do it was the sanctity of my purpose: I was doing it to ask for something for someone else. If it was for myself? I never would have done it.