Get people to help you in workplace? How?

Question

In a workplace, how are some techniques to make people help you? I'm always assigned to d**n projects, and everytime I try to ask people from different department for info or assistance, they just ignore my email, not picking up the phone or etc. It's not that i'm incompetent; the projects require information and input from others. It seems like I can only get what I want when they need help from me, and after I help them, they feel that they owe me something. I spoke with one of the senior colleagues, he told me that in these situations, you really need to talk to them in person and ask them because when you're in front of them, your presense is a pressure for them to react, and it's harder for them to give you the attitude that they can in email or on phone. He said it has to do with human psychology, and he doesn't know how to explain it. I'm sure you all have been in this situation, teach me some tricks please.

Answer 1

Get a senior level person at your place of employment to send a memo down to everyone stating the importance of the project you are working on and that their cooperation is critical and expected to the success of the project.  

Yes, face to face meetings...booking time ahead of time will not interfer with other work people are doing and you can get info easier and clarify any info given to you immediately.  

Hold a group meeting if it's possible, especially if you need consensus on something....

But without senior leadership backing you will always have problems.....have done this for years...across the world, with large companies/government (psychologist, retired IBMer)