Have you got a minute?

"Have you got a minute?"

Four simple words, but how you answer them sets the tone for your entire team’s culture.

When a direct report asks this, the instinctive response is often a distracted "What is it?" or a sigh-adjacent "Sure, what’s up?"

Even if you don't mean anything by it, to the person asking, it can sound like:

❌ "You’re interrupting me."

❌ "This better be quick."

❌ "I don't really have time for your problem."

Now, imagine shifting that response to three simple words:

 "How can I help?"

Think about how that single phrase makes your team feel:

 Valued: It immediately signals that their problem is worth your time.

 Safe: It removes the fear of being a burden or "bothering the boss."

 Supported: It flips the dynamic from an interruption to a collaboration.

As managers and leaders, how we respond in these micro-moments dictates whether people bring us problems early—when they’re small and manageable—or hide them until they turn into fires.

Approachable leadership isn't about having an open-door policy on paper. It’s about how open your door feels when someone actually knocks on it.

How do you handle the "got a minute?" moment in your workday?