You've done the work.
You did the research.
You communicated your findings.
And no one reads it or follows the information.
Why?
Clearly poor communication and poor relationship skills can thwart the best of who we are and what we can do. While it may seem like kowtowing to appeal to people's need for affirmation--those that put people ahead of the problems are always more successful.
I remember a colleague who always put the people first. In a sense, his good people skills had people ready and willing to do anything he asked. On the other hand bright, informed individuals who truly did have good ideas were ignored because their people skills were so poor.
As we all know, people skills are essential to any good work possible and there's no way around it.