Being easy to work with is an often overlooked leadership quality. And many people don’t realise how this is impacting their career and work opportunities.

Leaders who are approachable and communicative create a more enticing work environment which in turn empowers their team. By prioritising availability, clear communication, kindness, and trust, great leaders reduce friction, enhance collaboration, and ensure smooth decision-making processes. Ultimately, being easy to work with not only benefits the team but also drives the overall success of the organisation. Here are some foundations that make the best leaders easy to work with:

Being available

Many of us hide behind our packed calendars, thinking constant meetings equal productivity. Great leaders make a conscious effort to stay available for high-priority tasks and say no to the rest. They prioritise being present for their teams and key stakeholders, especially when decisions are needed.

There’s nothing worse than realising at the end of the week that a lack of availability caused bottlenecks or friction because the leader was stuck in meetings instead of offering support. 

Communicating clearly 

Try using this simple formula to convey your needs and priorities. Start with the desired outcome, explain why it’s important and how it links to other priorities, and specify how you want to be updated on progress, blockers, and questions. This approach helps set expectations and share updates, even when things aren’t going well.

Being kind over being nice 

Kindness doesn’t mean being a pushover. In tough conversations, listen actively with empathy, giving people the chance to speak without interruptions. Provide timely feedback with context and escalate issues mindfully, documenting key points for future reference.

Start from a position of trust

We’re all hired for our skills and working towards the same goals. Remain accountable for what you can influence, let go of what you can’t control, and trust others to do the same. When you’ve had a bad day, seek counsel from trusted colleagues in private, because we’re all human.

Being easy to work with can be challenging. But when in doubt, treat others as we’d like to be treated and watch the positive ripple effect.

Enjoy the rest of the week and let us know which one of these foundations resonates with you most.