Being Easy To Work With: The Leadership Skill That Changed My Career

Early in my career, I wasn't particularly easy to work with.

When I got stuck in a project, I tried to figure everything out on my own instead of drawing on the expertise around me. Looking back, I wasn't just missing out on my colleagues' experience, I was also missing opportunities to build stronger working relationships. And when life outside of work was difficult, I often let that stress spill over into the workplace more than I realized, which led some coworkers to try to avoid me.

I wasn't making collaboration, or even sharing an office, easy for the people around me.

Over time, I realized that good leadership starts long before you’re given a formal leadership role. It starts with being easy to work with as a peer.

And that has very little to do with being calm or quiet, always agreeing, accommodating everyone, or being the person who brings treats to the workplace.

Being easy to work with means:

• Being reliable and following through on your commitments.
• Being attuned to the needs of the people you work with.
• Regulating your emotions so they don't alienate others.
• Being open to feedback without taking it personally.
• Making good use of the knowledge and experience around you.
• Offering support as readily as you're willing to receive it.
• Cultivating an attitude that helps people deal with challenges together.

Developing the skills that were missing transformed my career in ways expertise alone never could.

People started inviting me into collaborations.
They trusted me with greater responsibility.
They sought me out for mentoring.

All of this became possible because working with me became easier - and more enjoyable.

Your expertise earns respect.
How you show up in collaboration earns credibility.

And credibility is what people look for.

What quality makes someone genuinely great to work with?