Lachlan Brown
Let’s be real – finding a good coworker to vibe with is essential in any office.
When you click with someone, it creates this sense of camaraderie that can work wonders for teamwork and performance.
Plus, let’s not forget that being a great coworker opens doors to more opportunities within the company.
When your colleagues see you as a leader or a dedicated employee, you become a shoo-in for those promotions.
Now, here’s the thing – there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to success at work. It’s not just about ticking off boxes on a checklist.
In fact, great employees come in all shapes and sizes, each with their own unique set of personality traits.
So, take a closer look at your colleagues. You might just discover that the best ones possess these 11 key personality traits.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
1) Highly Reliable and Dependable
We all love working with someone who’s reliable and true to their word.
When a coworker says they’re going to take on a job or help out with a task, you can trust that they’ll follow through to the best of their abilities. That’s the kind of person you want on your team!
And it’s not just about meeting deadlines and taking responsibility for mistakes – it’s about earning a reputation as someone others can count on.
That’s the kind of reputation that’ll take you places in your career.
But here’s the thing – sometimes we all hit a wall at work. Maybe we’re struggling to figure out a problem, or we just can’t seem to stay on top of everything.
That’s where the ideal coworker comes in – they’re the ones who reach out to offer help because they know that two heads are better than one.
These top-notch coworkers aren’t just intuitive and helpful – they’re also thoughtful.
They know when you’re feeling frazzled and in need of a pick-me-up, so they’ll hand you a snack or a beverage to keep you going through those crazy workdays.
2) Great Communication Skills
Strong communication skills are an absolute must-have in any workplace.
When you’re able to clearly communicate what you need, how you need it, and when you need it, you’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish as a team.
Plus, everyone loves a coworker who can speak plainly and get to the point without rambling on for ages.
It just makes life so much easier, you know?
But here’s the real kicker – strong communication skills aren’t just about getting tasks done. They’re also essential when it comes to navigating workplace relationships.
When conflicts or disagreements arise, the best employees know how to speak tactfully and considerately to their colleagues.
And it’s not just about communication within your own culture, either. These days, cross-cultural communication skills are becoming more and more important in the workplace.
The best coworkers are willing to step out of their comfort zones and interact with colleagues from different cultures, allowing them to become an integral part of the team and connect with everyone on a deeper level.
3) Honest and Virtuous
Good coworkers also know how to let others know of ugly truths, like when someone is slacking off with their responsibilities or simply doing things as they go.
They confront the person and ask them what’s wrong before giving advice on how they can do better.
If their coworker doesn’t heed their advice, then they might take it up to anyone who’s concerned so it doesn’t affect the team’s work ethic.
The best employees are also virtuous – they don’t simply turn a blind eye to charades and any other dishonesty they see.
They have a strong sense of justice so they don’t just sit still especially if they know that they and their team are at a disadvantage.
4) Highly Optimistic
Work can be tough. There are deadlines, difficult clients, and projects that fall through.
It’s easy to become negative when things don’t go as planned. But great coworkers never lose faith in their team’s success.
They believe in positivity and know that it can make a big difference.
Working with someone who’s always encouraging and optimistic can be infectious.
It’s hard not to feel excited and passionate about what you do when you’re surrounded by positivity.
Personally, I know that when I’m feeling exhausted, I can always count on my coworkers to pick me up and keep me going. It’s like having a built-in support system at work.
And I do my best to pay it forward and cheer them on too. Because when we believe in each other, good things can happen.
5) Great Social Skills
When it comes to being a great employee, communication skills are only part of the equation.
Social skills play a huge role in fostering relationships between coworkers and clients alike, ultimately leading to a more positive and productive workplace.
Sure, being able to articulate your thoughts clearly is important, but it’s also crucial to pick up on non-verbal cues like body language and eye contact.
And let’s not forget about empathy – putting yourself in someone else’s shoes is key to being a compassionate and understanding coworker.
At the end of the day, it’s about treating others with respect and kindness, even when they’re having a tough time. After all, we all have our bad days.
6) Hard-Working and Goal-Oriented
Working hard shows employers and colleagues that a person is someone they can count on.
They don’t settle on the bare minimum because they understand that doing their best is essential to producing the best team output.
A great coworker stays late when needed and helps others when they’re struggling so the project can run more smoothly.
They don’t easily give up even when some things go wrong with their tasks – they calmly look at the problem and think of the best ways to solve it with the team.
But being hard-working and goal-oriented doesn’t necessarily mean that all they do in their life is work.
They also know how to set their boundaries because they don’t want to neglect their personal life as they build a career.
7) Open to Feedback and Criticism
Being able to take constructive criticism is an essential trait of a good coworker.
No one’s perfect, after all, and feedback helps improve the quality of work.
Good coworkers listen attentively to feedback without taking it personally and are always willing to adapt and implement suggestions for the team’s benefit.
In today’s fast-paced work environments, change is inevitable. It’s essential for coworkers to be flexible and adaptable to change to keep up with the demands of the job.
Although it’s normal to feel overwhelmed or stressed by sudden changes or rejections, good coworkers avoid excessive complaining as it can negatively impact team morale.
Instead, they take the changes in stride and work towards adapting to them positively.
8) Organized and Punctual
The best employees know that a messy desk affects their work ethic and overall performance, so they keep everything organized and tidy.
You might drop by their desk and see that their work calendars are up to date and their papers are neatly stacked in the right corner.
They don’t lose documents or miss meetings because they know how to keep themselves together.
Part of being organized at work is being punctual – whether it’s arriving at the office in the morning, attending meetings with the team or client, or submitting important papers right before the deadline.
They know that time is precious to everyone so they show their respect by being punctual at everything.
9) Autonomous but Adaptable
Workplaces can easily become more complex even if you only run around one department all day.
Employers look for people who can work on their own with little to no supervision because they know that these are efficient individuals who can benefit the ever-busy company.
While self-direction is an admirable quality in an employee, it’s still important to remember that some tasks require collaboration with the team or other departments.
A good coworker does well on their own, but they must also bode well with other people working toward the same goal.
As a writer, I’m typically left on my own so I can focus on writing articles.
But when I have to work with a team, I always make sure to let them know of my ideas and worries so the task can be finished more quickly with minimal troubles.
Luckily, my coworkers are also great team players who offer me help by sharing tips or tricks whenever I feel overwhelmed.
10) Passionate for Work and Life
The attitude of the people around us easily affects our mood and morale, so it’s helpful to have teammates who are passionate when it comes to work.
You might see a good coworker putting their utmost effort into the project, so you’re inspired to do the same – leading to better work results in a much shorter time.
Although they seem happy while working passionately, a good coworker still has a healthy personal life they tell you about.
Sharing some details of their life, like how they recently adopted a new dog or moved into a new apartment, can also be a motivation for you.
This doesn’t necessarily mean they’re bragging about their achievements, but rather they’re telling you stories because they feel close enough to you.
11) Professional and Respectful to Everyone
A good coworker shows everyone the same amount of respect they expect to be treated with.
Regardless if they’re talking to the CEO, a teammate, or the janitor, a good employee respects everyone they interact with throughout the day.
A good coworker with strong social skills treats everyone with respect and professionalism, regardless of personal preferences.
Respecting everyone who deserves it allows us to succeed at our jobs because we develop strong working relationships with the people around us.
It’s crucial to be on good terms with the people we closely work with if we want to build our network better.
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