Building Workplace Relationships

We have recently been researching a lot into the importance of building workplace relationships.  More specifically, we have been looking into what it takes for left-brained technical employees to work through the right-brained task of relationship-building and networking.  How do you convince task-based professionals that relationship tasks are just as important to the success of a project?

My question to our readers is, “How would you rate yourself on your ability to build relationships?”  Do you find it important to build relationships with your co-workers?  Do you find it uncomfortable?  Speak up!