Building rapport is no easy task. I

Building rapport is no easy task. It requires you to be a great listener (not just a good one). Managers who are listening take good notes, are quick to follow through, and are responsible enough to proactively address your immediate needs and requirements to help you be more successful.

Effective managers are also good at engaging with difficult personalities and situations. For example, early in my career, I learned a valuable lesson: people don’t like having a much younger boss. Instead of viewing them merely as difficult people, I made it my responsibility to empower them and help them to be more successful. After they received their well-deserved recognition and bonuses, they quickly forgot about my age. If there was envy, it was converted into opportunity.