But those same traits can stymie people when they reach the executive level, where teamwork is vital. Establishing good working relationships can help us secure the cooperation of the people we need to accomplish our tasks. If we delay building good relationships until we really need them, it will be too late. Here are six of Frankel's favorite techniques for socializing at work. Once a day, drop into someone's office for a 10-minute talk.
Casual conversation helps build friendly relationships that can withstand stress.
When people talk to you, listen. When you need help, ask for it. This is mainly a relationship-building exercise, but you'll get lots of useful feedback as well. Don't let your desire to be liked keep you from being straightforward. We all want to be popular, but that desire should never overshadow the need to make tough decisions.