Which Documentation Must Be Hidden From Your Employees?

When you started the company with only three people, everyone had access to everything. What changed? Now you pretty much have a caste system based on who has access to what. Why is this preferable?

To start with, all of the people in your organization are your employees. They signed the NDA. They're here to help you. So why would you limit what they can do to help?

You might be limiting their access because you think they won't understand the topic at hand — finances, for example. But you can still leave that choice up to them: whoever doesn’t understand won't bother reading. Even better, you can actually teach them how to read and understand any type of information (financial or other). You never know who might need what and when to make the best decision for your business.

You might be limiting their access because you’re afraid they’ll make a mistake. Again, no one does something they don’t really understand, especially when there are others who do. Assume the best of intentions, and that’s exactly what you’ll get — and vice versa!

Here’s the elephant in the room: When someone hides something from us, we assume they're cheating. They're doing something behind our back that will hurt us. And most of the time we're right, because why else would they be hiding things from us?

It's the same at your company. You might not be doing anything against your employees, but if you're not transparent, they'll assume you are. And that will be enough to justify them working against you and your business in return. Now, if you think they’re too small to matter, try sleeping with a mosquito in the room. Your employees can destroy your business, one little act at a time — and that's only because you left them with the wrong impression.

There's a better way: Make sure things are fair and right, then open up all information to everybody. People will be buzzing with excitement for a few days, poking here and there, trying to find holes. When they don't, the dust will settle, and this will become the new normal. Then watch the magic happen 🪄