Just for fun/interest: what makes someone a pleasure to work with (and what doesn't)?

[Waytooearly]

I am musing over this during long commute on train. What in your opinion makes someone a pleasure to work with? (Or not?)

In my experience, qualities for 'pleasure to work with' are:

1. Competent and willing to learn
2. Copes with stress well (ignores small things and deals with emergencies)
3. Inventive, positive, generally just focused on ' let's make it work'
4. Collegial and friendly but doesn't push professional boundaries.
5. Has a genuine interest in work (somehow that's contagious)

Not such a pleasure? Maybe:

1. Not competent but unwilling to do anything about it.
2. I guess any kind of poor social skills, like martyr-y or aggressive or defensive or what have you.

3.No life outside work so waaaay too full on

My current issue with a coworker is that he is way too positive and try hard to the point where he’s actively ignoring instruction and direction. And now getting in to arguments with suppliers etc to try and negotiate a really good deal but basically pissing them off instead and ruining long term relationships.

So I suppose, not being able to see the bigger picture

Oh that's really interesting. Like he's just not getting it. What happens when his manager tries to talk to him about it? Is he just defensive?

Being professional and competent.
Friendly.
Being funny.
Bringing cakes in.

I like a clear and straightforward relationship with colleagues and management.

So I was due in for something at 9 am. Got a text at 10pm saying oh it's not that important, come in whenever you want between 9 and 11.

I'd like to know what time to be expected so I can be there ten minutes beforehand. A two hour window? Felt like a test that I didn't know the pass mark for.

It's a fairly new job and I was in at 8:45 because I couldn't stand the idea of them looking at their watch wondering when I'd turn up!

I think you've nailed most of the positives.

I find it hard to deal with a colleague who has a very negative outlook. Whatever the issue, they like to admire the problem and reflect on how it affects them personally. Drives me nuts.

A sense of humour is important , having a laugh makes the day go quicker and I cant stand moaning, drives me mad. I work with someone who moans constantly about anything and everything even though she has a very easy life. I actively avoid her, I will often run to another room if I hear her coming down the stairs !

Bad-
Smelly lunches
Poor personal hygiene
Loud
Listening to heart fm

Good
Positive
Pleasant
Team player

Yes, maybe that comes down to clear communication? Someone being careful about their message, so you know whether the message is:

1. You're expected to be here by 9:00am
2. You have absolute discretion to arrive any time between 9 and 11.

When someone is unclear, it's hard to know if they're just a bit flaky, or whether they're playing games.

Don’t talk about your kids continuously .... nobody is interested. I pick up the phone when this colleague approaches my desk as I can’t bear 20 minutes of why little Sam got into trouble at school for wearing the wrong shoes ..... read the body language 😴

Good

Willing to do a tea run
Sense of humour
Helpful
Positive nature

Bad:

Being too LOUD

Bitching

Repeating “in jokes” from years ago and an obsession with the “good old days” (10 Year’s ago when most of their current colleagues weren’t around) —yes this is something that happens in my office and it’s really annoying—

Being distractingly handsome!

Biggest bugbear at the mo - some people seem to think they have the monopoly in stress and hard done byness. Feck off, do your job and don't waste time bitching to me. Thanks.

My problem people:

• always looking for ways to 'improve' things (too much time on their hands, literally never happy with things as they are)
• entitled (a woman who was never happy with what we gave her, and blind to her own falibilities, had no idea why her more competent colleagues were progressing and she was being pulled up)
• the emotional vampire (she was never satisfied with a simple thanks, everyone tried ridiculously hard to show gratitude, but she still left claiming that we didn't appreciate her)
• the 'fun' clique (desperately up their own arses making shitty jokes and making other staff feel excluded)

Good

• adaptable and forgiving - accepting the imperfections of others (ironic, I know)
• balanced - not too pally or too distant
• willing to muck in and help other colleagues - not precious about their role

Good: fair goes at the tea run, equal contributions to cakes/biscuits/fruit; friendly but appropriately distant, professional, glass half full type person.

Bad: tyrannical and egotistical behaviour, shouting at individuals like they are trash: bawling people out for doing something wrong when it wasn't their job in the first place; arselicking the directors "oh shall we do lunch?". Having zero interest in the sisterhood and all about self promotion. Here's a tip my love; you won't get as far as you think because you are just too damn nasty. Plus you spend each day looking busy but the reality is you are churning out fuck all work.

That felt good. Thanks OP

Good:
sense of humour and easy to get along with team player. Kind. Professional manner. Good attention to detail.

Bad: lazy, bitching and snide comments. Failing to recognise everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.

Honestly though, if you have a good sense of humour and are a team player you're 90% there in my book.

Good: says hello, goodbye, please, thank you. Makes tea every so often. Is clear about what they want/need/can deliver. Has time for a five min chat but isn't a time suck. Pitches in.

Bad: begins email asking for something with no 'hello' or similar. Tells tales. Gives zero notice then has a tantrum when things cannot be done on time. Competitively busy. Flaky.

I have two or three colleagues in category 1. Eighteen or so in category 2.

Am job hunting.