No matter how brilliant you are, if people don't enjoy working with you, your career can stall.

You may be smart.

You may be capable.

You may be resourceful.

Yet, you will not exploit your full potential, if you cannot get your team members to like you.

It comes to my mind a few annoying personalities I've met at work. Some of them were smart and capable. Yet, they were not likable. I witnessed them struggling to get things done - simple things that involved corporation of other team members.

Surely, you also have met at least one person of that kind. Now, imagine being such an *unlikable *person to your colleagues.

Your team members will not enjoy working with you.

You will not get their total commitment.

You will not get buy in for major decisions.

You will not get the support when things go wrong.

And you will not make any progress in your career.

Fortunately, being a likable person is not hard. Just follow these five simple tips. In fact, you may already be doing some of the things mentioned here. But, do them intently and purposefully and see how things improve:

Tip #1: Use the power in the smile

A smile is a universal sign of friendliness and warmth.

It’s one of the simplest and most effective tools you have for building relationships and being a likable person. When you walk into the office or a meeting, greet your colleagues with a smile. It immediately makes you more approachable and signals that you're happy to be there and happy to see them.

A small smile can go a long way in creating a positive and welcoming atmosphere.

Tip#2: Help willingly

We all have our own projects and deadlines.

Yet, always be ready to offer your time and energy for another person. Helping is just that - you give a small portion of your time and energy for another person whenever a situation calls for it.

It's not a burden. And you are not going to loose anything by doing so.

Helping a teammate isn’t just about the task at hand; it's about building trust and showing that you care about the team's success as a whole. Your willingness to share your time and energy shows you’re a team player, and that's a quality everyone likes and respects.

Tip#3: Don't try to outsmart everybody

There's a difference between being valuable and trying to prove you're the smartest.

The need to constantly show you know more than everyone else can be off-putting. Instead of trying to outsmart your colleagues, focus on being a person of value. Identify gaps and find ways to fill them.

Be the person who sees a problem and works on a solution, rather than just pointing out flaws. Your contributions will speak for themselves, and your humility will make you more respected and likable.

Tip#4: Engage in Fulfilling Conversations

Likable people show genuine interest in others.

Instead of always talking about yourself, take the time to learn about your colleagues' interests, hobbies, and kids, etc. Ask them about their weekend, their favorite sports team, or a new movie they’ve seen.

A simple conversation about something that matters to them can build a stronger connection than any work-related chat.

It shows you see them as a whole person, not just a coworker.

Tip#5: It's OK if not everyone likes you

This is the most important tip of all.

While you should strive to be a positive and approachable person, you can't be everything to everyone. Trying to please everyone is a fast track to burnout and can make you seem inauthentic. Focus on being true to yourself while embodying the qualities of a good teammate.

As long as the majority of people respect and enjoy working with you, you're on the right track. Don't lose sleep over the few who don’t.

Ultimately, being likable isn't a performance—it’s a mindset. It’s about focusing on others, being a positive force, and showing up as a genuine and helpful person.

When you do, your career will benefit in ways you never expected.