I’m a lucky person because I love to work with the majority of my coworkers (honestly, not with all of them, but actually with most of them), but I’m not sure that people think the same about me. So, I try to find what can help and – thanks to Randy Conley, I’ve just discovered some things that we can do to make it easy for people to work with us:

1. Build rapport – People want to work with people they like. Are you likable? Do you have a genuine interest in them as people?

2. Be a good communicator – Poor communication is at the root of many workplace conflicts. Help the other to ask questions and remember, it’s better to over-communicate than under-communicate.

3. Make their job easier – If you want to gain people’s cooperation, make their job easier. Ask them! Identify the WIIFM (what’s in it for me) from your colleague’s perspective and it will help you tailor your interactions.

4. Provide the “why” behind your requests – Simply passing off information and asking someone to “just do it like I said” is rude and condescending. Make sure people understand the context of your request, why it’s important, and how critical they are to the success of the task/project.

5. Be trustworthy – Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship. Keep your word, act with integrity, demonstrate competence in your own work, admit mistakes, and apologize when necessary.