Expressing anticipation, respect, and positive intent at the start of a professional relationship matters more than people realize. While “looking forward to working with you” is polite and widely accepted, it can feel overused, generic, or emotionally flat—especially when you want your message to sound thoughtful, warm, and human.
In professional emails, LinkedIn messages, proposals, or onboarding notes, the right phrasing helps you build trust, show emotional intelligence, and set the tone for a collaborative relationship. Below are 25 carefully chosen alternatives, written from real-world communication experience, designed to sound natural, empathetic, and professionally confident—not stiff or robotic.
1. Excited to Collaborate With You
Being excited to collaborate with you signals positive energy and genuine enthusiasm from the very first interaction.
- Best use: Team projects, creative roles, startups
- Not to use: Very formal legal or compliance communication
- Other ways to say: Eager to collaborate, Happy to collaborate
- Example: I’m excited to collaborate with you on this upcoming project.
2. I’m Looking Forward to Our Collaboration
Looking forward to our collaboration keeps the tone professional, warm, and balanced.
- Best use: Business emails, client onboarding
- Not to use: Casual chats
- Other ways to say: Anticipating our collaboration
- Example: I’m looking forward to our collaboration and shared goals.
3. Delighted to Be Working Together
Saying delighted to be working together adds a touch of grace and emotional warmth.
- Best use: Long-term partnerships
- Not to use: Short transactional exchanges
- Other ways to say: Pleased to work together
- Example: I’m delighted to be working together on this initiative.
4. Eager to Get Started With You
Eager to get started with you expresses momentum and readiness.
- Best use: Project kickoffs
- Not to use: When timelines are unclear
- Other ways to say: Ready to begin
- Example: I’m eager to get started with you soon.
5. Happy to Be Partnering With You
Happy to be partnering with you emphasizes mutual respect.
- Best use: Strategic alliances
- Not to use: Internal reporting
- Other ways to say: Glad to partner
- Example: We’re happy to be partnering with you on this effort.
6. Looking Ahead to Working Together
Looking ahead to working together sounds calm, confident, and professional.
- Best use: Executive communication
- Not to use: Urgent situations
- Other ways to say: Anticipating working together
- Example: I’m looking ahead to working together successfully.
7. Thrilled to Join Forces With You
Thrilled to join forces with you adds high enthusiasm.
- Best use: Creative or startup environments
- Not to use: Conservative corporate settings
- Other ways to say: Excited to join forces
- Example: I’m thrilled to join forces with you on this.
8. I Appreciate the Opportunity to Work With You
Appreciate the opportunity to work with you shows humility and gratitude.
- Best use: Senior stakeholders
- Not to use: Peer-to-peer casual talk
- Other ways to say: Grateful for the opportunity
- Example: I truly appreciate the opportunity to work with you.
9. Looking Forward to a Successful Collaboration
Looking forward to a successful collaboration subtly sets a results-focused tone.
- Best use: Business proposals
- Not to use: Informal chats
- Other ways to say: Anticipating success together
- Example: I’m looking forward to a successful collaboration.
10. Excited About What We’ll Achieve Together
Excited about what we’ll achieve together centers shared success.
- Best use: Leadership messages
- Not to use: One-off tasks
- Other ways to say: Optimistic about outcomes
- Example: I’m excited about what we’ll achieve together.
11. Glad to Be Working Alongside You
Glad to be working alongside you feels supportive and respectful.
- Best use: Team introductions
- Not to use: Sales pitches
- Other ways to say: Happy to work alongside
- Example: I’m glad to be working alongside you.
12. Enthusiastic About Our Upcoming Work
Enthusiastic about our upcoming work conveys motivation without overdoing it.
- Best use: Project planning
- Not to use: Conflict resolution
- Other ways to say: Positive about upcoming work
- Example: I’m enthusiastic about our upcoming work.
13. I’m Pleased to Begin This Work Together
Pleased to begin this work together is polished and composed.
- Best use: Formal emails
- Not to use: Casual Slack messages
- Other ways to say: Glad to begin together
- Example: I’m pleased to begin this work together.
14. Looking Forward to Building Something Great Together
Looking forward to building something great together feels aspirational.
- Best use: Creative projects
- Not to use: Routine admin tasks
- Other ways to say: Excited to build together
- Example: I’m looking forward to building something great together.
15. Motivated to Work With You
Motivated to work with you signals internal drive.
- Best use: Performance-based roles
- Not to use: Thank-you notes
- Other ways to say: Driven to collaborate
- Example: I’m motivated to work with you on this.
16. Happy to Start This Journey Together
Happy to start this journey together adds emotional depth.
- Best use: Long-term programs
- Not to use: Short contracts
- Other ways to say: Glad to start together
- Example: I’m happy to start this journey together.
17. I Value the Chance to Work With You
Value the chance to work with you expresses respect.
- Best use: Senior leadership
- Not to use: Casual coworkers
- Other ways to say: Appreciate the chance
- Example: I value the chance to work with you.
18. Excited to Learn and Work Together
Excited to learn and work together shows humility and growth mindset.
- Best use: Mentorship
- Not to use: Authority-heavy roles
- Other ways to say: Eager to learn together
- Example: I’m excited to learn and work together.
19. Looking Forward to Contributing to Our Work
Looking forward to contributing to our work centers teamwork.
- Best use: New hires
- Not to use: Sales emails
- Other ways to say: Ready to contribute
- Example: I’m looking forward to contributing to our work.
20. Honored to Be Working With You
Honored to be working with you conveys deep respect.
- Best use: High-profile professionals
- Not to use: Casual peers
- Other ways to say: Privileged to work with you
- Example: I’m honored to be working with you.
21. Keen to Collaborate With You
Keen to collaborate with you is concise and confident.
- Best use: International communication
- Not to use: Emotional messages
- Other ways to say: Eager to collaborate
- Example: I’m keen to collaborate with you.
22. Looking Forward to Productive Teamwork
Looking forward to productive teamwork focuses on outcomes.
- Best use: Operations roles
- Not to use: Creative branding
- Other ways to say: Anticipating productive work
- Example: I’m looking forward to productive teamwork.
23. Excited to Work Closely With You
Excited to work closely with you suggests trust and openness.
- Best use: Cross-functional teams
- Not to use: Distant partnerships
- Other ways to say: Happy to work closely
- Example: I’m excited to work closely with you.
24. I Welcome the Opportunity to Work Together
Welcome the opportunity to work together is polished and respectful.
- Best use: Formal proposals
- Not to use: Casual messages
- Other ways to say: Glad to welcome this opportunity
- Example: I welcome the opportunity to work together.
25. Positive About Working Together
Positive about working together keeps things simple and sincere.
- Best use: Neutral professional settings
- Not to use: Highly emotional contexts
- Other ways to say: Optimistic about working together
- Example: I’m positive about working together.
Why People Pick These Phrases
People choose these alternatives because words shape relationships. From personal experience working with clients, editors, and teams across industries, I’ve seen how a small shift in phrasing can change how a message feels—more human, more intentional, and more memorable. These expressions help professionals sound confident without arrogance, warm without being casual, and authentic without trying too hard.
Choosing the right words isn’t about sounding impressive—it’s about sounding real, respectful, and ready to work together.
