How often do you ask yourself the question: “Are YOU good to work with?” Most of us have, at some point, formed opinions about whether a colleague, client, or boss was easy to collaborate with. We’ve all experienced working alongside people we didn’t enjoy being around, and many of us have silently judged someone as ‘not good to work with.’ But how often do you pause to ask yourself that same question about you?
Being easy to work with is one of the most underrated career skills—and it’s one you can develop with intention. When you do, the rewards come in many forms: a wider network, more recommendations, and doors opening to new opportunities. Your personal profile, reputation, and the chances that come your way depend heavily on whether others think you’re good to work with. As Publilius Syrus said, “A good reputation is more valuable than money.”
So, what makes someone good to work with? After extensive research on what builds great team players, colleagues, and leaders, we’ve distilled five essential qualities that set people apart: Collaboration, Honesty, Appreciation, Reliability, and Motivation. Together, these form what we call C.H.A.R.M. By intentionally dialing up these five qualities, you’ll become someone others seek out and want to work with. The good news is it doesn’t require a complete personality overhaul—just awareness and small shifts.
Change Starts with You: Dial Up Your CHARM
The problem with being perceived as difficult to work with is that no matter how skilled you are, over time, the frustration you cause can outweigh your value. People simply stop wanting to collaborate with you. On the other hand, being good to work with benefits not only you but your entire team and organisation. It fuels collaboration and creativity, boosts motivation and resilience, and helps everyone navigate both successes and challenges. Most importantly, it builds meaningful connections and opens doors to exciting opportunities—both personally and professionally. Especially in today’s world, where AI and technology grow rapidly, being good to work with remains one of your most vital human assets.
The truth is, if you want to change your experience at work and in life, there’s only one thing you can change: you. When you shift your choices, attitudes, and responses, amazing changes happen. Relationships improve, your environment becomes more positive, and new opportunities arise. This shift in intention is what we call the 4D human being—the ‘fourth dimension’ of intentionality. By choosing to be good to work with, you enrich your life with engagement, fulfillment, excitement, and possibilities you may never have imagined.
Being good to work with begins and ends with great communication. The more you cultivate and express these five qualities—Collaboration, Honesty, Appreciation, Reliability, and Motivation—the more people will enjoy working with you, and the more productive and creative your work life will become.
