Success in your business is in part dependent on getting along with the people around you — staff members, bosses, customers, or even the cleaning crew. Ross McCammon’s book, Works Well With Others (Dutton) offers advice on forging positive relations in the workplace. Here are some of his points to ponder:

• Energize your conversations. Most workplace conversation are about, well, work. But whether you’re meeting a new team member or getting together at a conference or cocktail party, you’ll get more out of your interaction by asking a question like, “What do you do?” instead of, “What’s your job?” Most people enjoy talking about what they accomplish (or even fail at) more than they like reciting their job description.
• Take stock of unpleasant people. Some people just aren’t nice. But when dealing with someone who’s irritating, try to determine whether it’s part of their personality or they’re just having a bad day. Limit your interactions with genuinely dislikable folks, but cut the rest some slack. We all go off the deep end once in a while.
• Identify the people you trust. When you’re not sure how much you really like and trust a person, try this simple test: Ask yourself whether you’d trust the person to take care of your dog (or cat, or other pet) for a weekend. If the answer is yes, chances are you’re feeling a strong positive connection to the person. If no, remain professional but keep your distance.