Strong coworker relationships are the foundation of a positive work environment. When you build genuine connections, communicate clearly, and support one another, everything else clicks into place. Collaboration flows. Engagement soars. Retention rises.
But being a great coworker requires intention and effort, especially in an era of remote and hybrid work. According to Gallup, the percentage of U.S. employees working exclusively remote has leveled off at around 29% in 2023. While flexible work offers benefits, it can also make forging close coworker bonds more challenging.
The good news? With the right approach, you can become an exceptional colleague others trust and admire, no matter where you work. Read on for our top 10 habits to embrace, straight from workplace experts.
1. Be reliable with a track record of follow-through
When coworkers ask you to describe an ideal teammate, reliability tops the list. In a recent Joblist survey, dependability was the #1 most appreciated quality in a coworker, cited by 49% of respondents.
"Reliability is the foundation of trust," says Eve Rodsky, author of Find Your Unicorn Space. "Consistently following through on your commitments shows people they can count on you."
Some ways to demonstrate reliability:
- Hit deadlines and deliver work at or above expectations
- Communicate proactively if you need more time or support
- Show up prepared and on time to meetings
- Respond to messages and requests in a timely manner
- Follow up on action items and next steps
Reliability isn‘t about being perfect. It‘s about being transparent and accountable. If you realize you can‘t meet a deadline, raise the flag early. If you drop the ball, own it and make amends.
2. Respect others‘ time, boundaries and workstyles
In a world where people feel busier than ever, respecting your coworkers‘ time is one of the most valued things you can do. What does respect look like in practice?
- Avoid scheduling meetings that could be an email
- Be punctual and prepared
- Give people focused attention in meetings and 1:1s
- Respond promptly to time-sensitive requests
- Protect others‘ focus time by batching non-urgent questions
- Be mindful of time zones and off-hours when pinging others
It‘s also important to be aware that people have different boundaries, communication preferences, and workstyles. An early bird may prefer a 7am check-in while a night owl would rather connect in the afternoon.
To avoid misunderstandings, align on expectations upfront. What‘s the best way to reach someone for urgent needs? What‘s their typical turnaround time on non-urgent requests? How do they prefer to collaborate?
"Great coworkers adjust their style to what works best for others," says Erica Keswin, author of Rituals Roadmap. "They make the effort to understand how their colleagues work instead of assuming it matches their own MO."
3. Practice humility and jump in to help
Humility is a superpower that fuels collaboration and psychological safety. Research by Catalyst found that when leaders demonstrate humility, employees are more likely to feel included, innovative, and engaged.
What does humility look like for coworkers? Exceptional colleagues give credit generously, welcome feedback openly, and aren‘t afraid to admit mistakes or knowledge gaps.
Another hallmark of humility is a willingness to help without being asked. Look for opportunities to make a coworker‘s job easier. Some ideas:
- Volunteer to take notes in a meeting
- Offer to review a colleague‘s work before they submit it
- Send a coworker relevant resources on a topic they‘re researching
- Bring a coworker coffee when they‘re slammed
- Cover for a teammate when they‘re out sick or on vacation
"Proactively offering help demonstrates you‘re a team player," says Susan Cain, author of Quiet. "It shows you‘re paying attention and eager to support your coworkers‘ success."
4. Champion inclusivity and value diverse perspectives
The most innovative, high-performing teams bring together people with diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and ways of thinking. Great coworkers not only embrace differences but actively champion inclusion.
Some ways to be a force for inclusion:
- Amplify ideas from underrepresented voices in meetings
- Openly praise colleagues‘ unique strengths and viewpoints
- Advocate for inclusive hiring and promotion practices
- Call out biased language or behavior if you witness it
- Get to know colleagues as multifaceted humans, not just job titles
- Mentor or sponsor someone with a different background than you
When you value diversity of thought, you gain new insights and avoid groupthink. Research shows that cognitively diverse teams solve problems 60% faster than non-diverse teams.
"Diversity isn‘t just good for society, it‘s good for business," says Aubrey Blanche, Global Head of Equitable Design & Impact at Culture Amp. "Embracing different voices leads to better decisions and stronger outcomes."
5. Communicate with clarity, empathy and openness
Excellent coworkers know communication is a two-way street. They share information proactively, listen attentively, and engage in honest dialogue. Some communication superpowers to cultivate:
- Clarity: Get to the point quickly, use concise language, bold key takeaways
- Empathy: Assume positive intent, acknowledge others‘ feelings, flex your style
- Openness: Default to transparency, voice concerns directly, share feedback thoughtfully
- Attentiveness: Give others your full focus in meetings, recap key points, ask clarifying questions
To keep remote teams aligned, exceptional coworkers also leverage asynchronous communication. That means documenting decisions, progress, and learnings in shared tools like Loom, Notion, or Slack.
"Successful remote teams share information openly and default to transparency," says Darren Murph, Head of Remote at GitLab. "Documenting context and decisions empowers people to move work forward without bottlenecks."
6. Proactively build meaningful connections
With remote work, you can‘t rely on organic encounters to build rapport. It takes more effort to get to know coworkers on a human level beyond transactional interactions.
Exceptional colleagues are intentional about forging personal connections. They use video calls, Slack chats, and virtual coffee dates to check in with teammates and learn about their lives, interests, and goals.
Some ideas to spark connection:
- Host a virtual lunch or happy hour
- Start meetings with a quick round-robin icebreaker question
- Create Slack channels around shared hobbies or identities
- Send coworkers cards, care packages or DoorDash credits
- Offer to be a new hire‘s onboarding buddy
- Play online games like Kahoot or Drawful together
"Relationship-building needs to be woven into the daily fabric of work," says Keswin. "Finding moments of authentic connection boosts belonging and makes work more joyful."
7. Support others emotionally and operationally
When coworkers feel overwhelmed, a little empathy goes a long way. Exceptional colleagues tune into subtle cues that someone needs support. They ask open-ended questions and make space for honest conversations.
"Proactively checking in helps people feel seen and cared for," says Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia. "It‘s as simple as asking ‘How‘s your heart today?‘ or ‘What‘s keeping you up at night lately?‘"
Offering tangible help can also lessen a coworker‘s burden. That might mean:
- Taking a task off their plate when their workload is heavy
- Connecting them with resources or experts to solve a problem
- Reviewing their work and providing constructive feedback
- Being a sounding board for their ideas or concerns
- Stepping up to lead a project when they‘re on vacation
"Great coworkers have a service mindset," says Rodsky. "They‘re always thinking about how they can add value and make others‘ lives easier."
8. Celebrate wins and recognize contributions often
A little recognition goes a long way. According to Gallup, employees who feel appreciated are 56% less likely to be looking for other job opportunities. They‘re also more engaged, productive, and loyal.
Exceptional coworkers shine a spotlight on others‘ wins big and small. They give shout-outs in team meetings, send congratulatory emails, and nominate peers for awards. Some other impactful ways to show appreciation:
- Write a LinkedIn recommendation showcasing someone‘s strengths
- Create a kudos channel in Slack where anyone can give props
- Use a recognition tool like Bonusly to send personalized praise
- Give a coworker a gift card to their favorite store or restaurant
- Take a colleague out to lunch to celebrate a milestone
The most meaningful recognition is timely, specific, and authentic. It‘s not just saying "good job." It‘s detailing how someone‘s unique contribution made a difference.
"Recognition is a renewable resource," says Emplify cofounder Santiago Jaramillo. "The more you give it, the more it multiplies and inspires people to keep doing great work."
9. Model grace under pressure and emotional intelligence
Work can be stressful, especially amid continual change and uncertainty. Emotions can run high. Conflicts can arise. How you respond in tense moments signals your character and shapes team morale.
Emotionally intelligent coworkers don‘t get defensive or play the blame game when things go wrong. They stay calm, focus on solutions, and give others the benefit of the doubt. Some hallmarks of high EQ:
- Self-awareness: Recognizing your own emotions, biases, and blind spots
- Self-control: Managing your reactions and keeping your cool
- Empathy: Picking up on others‘ feelings and seeing their perspective
- Relationship-building: Developing trust and rapport with a range of people
Modeling emotional intelligence builds psychological safety, the shared belief that it‘s safe to take risks, voice concerns, and admit mistakes. Google‘s famous Project Aristotle study found that psychological safety is the top factor separating high-performing teams from average ones.
"In psychologically safe teams, people know their teammates have their back," says Amy Edmondson, author of The Fearless Organization. "They feel comfortable being vulnerable because they trust others won‘t judge or punish them for it."
10. Be an ally and upstander for marginalized coworkers
Being an exceptional coworker means looking out for those around you, especially marginalized groups. It means educating yourself on the biases and barriers certain coworkers face. And it means using your privilege to advocate for positive change.
Some ways to be an ally at work:
- Amplify underrepresented voices in meetings
- Call out microaggressions or discriminatory comments if you witness them
- Advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives
- Volunteer to serve on employee resource groups (ERGs)
- Mentor or sponsor women, people of color, LGBTQ+ folks, and people with disabilities
- Normalize talking about topics like mental health, caregiving duties, and pronoun preferences
- Attend cultural events, trainings, and speaker series to deepen your understanding
Allyship isn‘t performative or self-serving. It‘s a lifelong commitment to learning, humility, and using your influence for good. True allies are upstanders, not passive bystanders.
"Being an ally is more than claiming a title. It requires consistent, intentional effort," says Michelle Kim, CEO of Awaken. "Allies acknowledge their own biases, take responsibility for their impact, and work in solidarity with marginalized groups."
Becoming an Exceptional Coworker Starts with Daily Habits
Being an exceptional colleague doesn‘t require grand gestures. It‘s about showing up authentically and consistently. Choosing patience over judgment. Assuming the best in others. Lending a hand before being asked.
Small, everyday actions like these add up to profound impact over time. They help coworkers feel valued, supported, and connected – the key ingredients for a positive employee experience.
So reflect on one habit from this list that resonates with you. How could you put it into practice today? This week? This month? Remember, progress beats perfection. Each small step creates a ripple effect.
As leadership expert Jon Gordon wrote, "You don‘t win with the best talent. You win with the five best teammates." When you invest in being a great coworker, you set the whole team up to thrive. And that‘s the secret to a standout career.