10 Simple, Proven Ways to Be a Better Co-Worker

How to be a better co-worker

You don’t have to have a particular personality or fit into a specific box to be a good co-worker. Anyone can implement the following best practices to improve their role as a colleague and help create a cohesive team atmosphere. 

1. Practice excellent meeting etiquette.

Meetings can be critical to business communication, goal-setting and project management. However, many professionals view meetings as burdensome time-wasters. Becoming a stellar meeting co-attendee can endear you to your co-workers and managers alike. As a bonus, you’ll boost efficiency in your department and projects. 

Here are some meeting etiquette tips that can help you become a better co-worker:

• Follow your colleagues’ leads: Who you’re meeting with — and why — can direct your behavior. For example, if you’re in a brainstorming meeting, come with well-thought-out ideas and be ready to pivot. If you’re in a crisis response meeting, match your colleagues’ concerned attitudes and have helpful advice ready. If a meeting is meant to be a quick catch-up session, save the long-winded questions. 
• Choose your words carefully: Most meetings in a professional setting require professional communication. Choose effective words for business meetings to convey your points and communicate efficiently. Additionally, avoid business buzzwords, such as, “touch base” or “circle back,” that your colleagues may view as insincere. 
• Stay on topic: Nothing derails a meeting — and annoys co-workers — more than a rambling meeting that veers wildly off-topic and ultimately accomplishes nothing. Don’t be the person who extends the meeting with unhelpful questions and side commentary. Ensure your meeting contributions are concise, relevant and helpful. 
• Behave professionally: Business meetings can become throwbacks to elementary school classrooms with side conversations, snide comments, talking over someone else and other flat-out rude behavior. Don’t be that colleague. Additionally, avoid unintentional rudeness, such as leaving the room to take a phone call or answering a text during the meeting (unless there’s a genuine emergency). You may be attending to important business, but it tells your colleagues that they’re not important. 

Your co-workers want meetings and interactions that are focused, productive and interesting so always contribute positively.

2. Communicate in person with co-workers whenever possible.

How you communicate with co-workers can impact your relationships significantly. While email and Slack-type communication methods are often unavoidable, communicating in person when possible can solidify relationships, prevent miscommunications, reinforce ideas and help you become a better co-worker. 

Unlike email threads and instant message chats, face-to-face communication — and interactions like handshakes and high fives — can cause the body to release oxytocin. This hormone helps people connect with and trust others, facilitating collaboration and attachment. Oxytocin can also positively impact your mood, decrease cortisol (the stress chemical) in your body and improve your ability to learn and remember.

Take at least a few moments out of every day to step away from your computer screen and talk to your co-workers in person. It can make all of you much happier. If escaping from your desk during the workday proves challenging, join co-workers for lunch when possible. As a bonus, sharing workplace meals can boost productivity and team engagement. 

3. Work harder to become a better co-worker — it’s contagious.

Perhaps the most straightforward advice for becoming a better co-worker is to work harder. Productive and efficient co-workers are appreciated and respected by all. In addition to boosting your reputation among colleagues, working harder helps you effortlessly lead by example and encourages and inspires team members to do the same. Your workplace will enjoy improved productivity and cooperation and respect among team members will increase. 

4. Always be kind, never rude.

While this may sound like a no-brainer, it’s advice every professional should consider: don’t be rude. Your demeanor is crucial to becoming a better co-worker. You may be brilliant and busy, but that’s no excuse for being short with team members and treating them callously. 

Ensure your interactions with co-workers go smoothly by answering their questions thoughtfully, avoiding short replies and making every effort to engage in pleasant conversations with your peers. If you’re met with rudeness from a colleague, do your best to rise above it and don’t let that negativity infiltrate how you treat others. When you maintain a positive attitude in the workplace, you have the power to improve the company culture.

5. Be honest about your capacity.

While every well-meaning team member wants to contribute and help projects succeed, saying yes all the time doesn’t make you a great co-worker. It may make you an overworked, resentful co-worker who misses deadlines and grows increasingly frustrated. 

In contrast, honesty about your capacity can make you a great co-worker. If someone inquires about you taking on additional tasks and you’re already working at maximum capacity, be candid and tactful. Instead of saying yes and disappointing them later — or being curt and saying, “I’m busy” — try, “Thanks for bringing this to me. I have X, Y and Z on my plate. Is there any chance I can look at this in a day or two?”

Your co-worker might decide to ask someone else to help and that’s OK. They’ll likely appreciate your honesty while respecting your boundaries. 

6. Be clear about your availability.

Everyone takes personal days, vacations, sick days and other time off, but not everyone knows your schedule. To be a better co-worker, alert your team in the morning if you must take a sick day or personal day unexpectedly. If a vacation or out-of-town assignment is on the books, share that information with your team ahead of time so no one is left in the lurch. 

Your co-workers will appreciate being able to proactively plan around your absences and availability instead of dealing with last-minute no-shows or unexpected project delays. 

7. Practice active listening.

Paying attention to your co-workers can be challenging when your thoughts are racing, and you’re stressed about your workload. However, active listening — genuinely hearing and responding to what people tell you — is key to building trust and being a great teammate.

When co-workers ask you for help or express concerns, devote your full attention to them and follow up appropriately. Your co-workers will feel acknowledged and know you care about and enjoy working with them. 

8. Respond to co-workers in a reasonable time frame.

Colleagues likely don’t expect immediate email replies because they understand your day is filled with client meetings, report deadlines and other urgent daily tasks. However, if they’ve emailed or messaged you, they will expect a response within a reasonable time frame. 

Set aside time to reply to co-workers’ messages in an appropriate time frame, whether they’re asking for your help, sharing updates or alerting you to an issue. Delayed responses cause bottlenecks and can frustrate your co-workers, preventing them from performing their jobs. 

There’s one caveat here: Your co-workers shouldn’t expect you to respond to after-hours emails, even if they’re sending you a message outside of work hours. Responding during the workday is entirely acceptable. You’ll be able to give them the thorough answers that make you a great co-worker.

9. Respect your colleagues’ boundaries.

Great co-workers respect their colleagues’ boundaries professionally and personally. For example, don’t overstep personal boundaries by asking overly personal questions or addressing topics that might make your co-worker uncomfortable. Respecting professional boundaries includes not calling or expecting message replies outside of office hours and never hounding a co-worker while they’re on vacation. 

To be a great co-worker, follow the adage of treating others how you’d like to be treated. If boundaries seem unclear, err on the side of caution or ask clarifying questions to determine what is or isn’t acceptable. 

Additionally, setting your own boundaries can help set an example for others to follow. By upholding your own standards, you will teach and inspire your colleagues to do the same — without guilt.

10.  Avoid gossiping with co-workers.

Participating in office gossip about co-workers or company drama can be tempting. However, gossiping may reflect poorly on your character and even make your co-workers feel emotionally unsafe around you. They’ll likely wonder what you’re saying about them to others. 

Additionally, while you might feel the urge to vent to your work friends about your boss, colleagues or workload, unloading your negativity could adversely impact co-workers’ stress levels and the overall company culture. As a general rule of thumb, voice your concerns when they arise to the appropriate parties. Otherwise, try to keep conversations professional, positive and supportive.

Qualities of good co-workers

Look around the office and pinpoint the individuals you consider “good co-workers.” They likely have many of the following traits and you’d do well to emulate them: 

• Good co-workers are flexible: Flexibility is crucial to being a good employee and co-worker. If you can adapt easily and go with the flow — even when projects don’t go according to plan — you’ll help others do the same.
• Good co-workers are supportive: Offering support to your colleagues can make all the difference in their confidence, stress levels and performance. 
• Good co-workers communicate: Communication, including good listening skills, is critical to being a good co-worker.
• Good co-workers work hard: The more hardworking you are, the less others will have to pick up your slack or stress about additional work. 
• Good co-workers inspire others: Most people enjoy being around someone who inspires them. Your passion and motivation can be contagious in the workplace.
• Good co-workers collaborate well: Collaborative team members help others achieve their goals or reach their deadlines and working as a team is often imperative for success.
• Good co-workers are positive: Optimism can rub off on others. Your positive attitude can help your co-workers feel happier and less discouraged — even when faced with stress.
• Good co-workers are reliable: Workplace reliability is essential to being a good co-worker. Your colleagues must know they can count on you.
• Good co-workers are professional: Maintaining a professional demeanor at work ensures you respect others’ boundaries and helps everyone work toward a common goal.
• Good co-workers are empathetic: Empathizing with others brings a sense of authenticity and humanness to an otherwise sterile workplace.

Becoming the best co-worker you can be

Workplace dynamics can be confusing. While you can be completely yourself with family and loved ones, colleagues require a mix of friendliness and professionalism — with a dash of well-honed communication skills and positivity. 

Focus on being a work-friendly version of your truest self. If you’re normally an energetic extrovert who tends to be overtalkative, channel that social energy to collaborative projects and inspire others with your passion. Meanwhile, if you’re quieter or less social, channel your ability to empathize and support others through one-on-one communication. 

Sammi Caramela contributed to this article.