The CEO of a 40-year-old company shares the top warning sign she sees in employees, emphasizing its importance to avoid.

Someone in your meetings is likely to be excessively loud, interrupt others, and take undue credit for projects.

Sara Paiji Yoo avoids hiring anti-collaborative individuals like the one described.

As an open and collaborative leader, I believe it is essential for every team member we bring on to possess the same qualities, says Paiji Yoo, CEO and co-founder of Blueland, in an interview with CNBC Make It.

Individuals who are not cooperative can be a source of frustration among colleagues, even if they excel in their work, leading to low morale, reduced productivity, and strained workplace relationships.

"Paiji Yoo, 40, believes that hiring individuals who understand that different inputs often lead to better outcomes is more beneficial than those who claim to be experts and insist on making the final call."

According to Heidi K. Gardner, a leadership expert and distinguished fellow at Harvard Law School, collaborative people have a "major competitive edge" in the workplace. They typically "deliver higher quality results, get promoted faster, and are more noticed by senior management," Gardner wrote for Make It last year.

"Gardner stated that being a collaborator requires effort, but the main objective is to unite individuals to address challenges and acquire new knowledge. He emphasized that his mindset is always to recognize that others have different perspectives and knowledge, and he can learn a great deal from them."

Don't come across as transactional

In 2019, Paiji Yoo and Syed Naqvi founded their company and later appeared on ABC's "Shark Tank." They secured an investment deal with Kevin O'Leary for $270,000 in exchange for 3% of the company and a royalty deal of 50 cents per product sold until O'Leary made his money back.

By 2022, Blueland had secured $35 million in investor funding and achieved over $100 million in lifetime sales, becoming profitable. Paiji Yoo, who declined to disclose additional financial details, highlighted Blueland's successful collaboration with O'Leary, despite his prickly television persona.

"He is always easily reachable through text or call. We typically communicate at least once a month. In the early days, it was more frequent, like every week or every two weeks," she says. "He has been highly involved and actively involved in the business."

To avoid coming across as transactional, Paiji Yoo advises against sending curt Slack messages or emails, only talking to colleagues when they want something, and focusing solely on getting what you need rather than building relationships.

""Assuming good intent is crucial for innovation," she emphasizes."

According to Stanford University lecturer and communication expert Matt Abrahams, gaining more workplace influence involves identifying allies and assisting those around you.

"Listen attentively to people when they speak to you, as Abrahams advised in March. It's not about being manipulative; rather, focus on the things that matter to you and respond accordingly. These actions can have a significant impact."

CNBC has the exclusive rights to air "Shark Tank" off-network.

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