Just me but I have someone hold the passenger side end (padded between trunk lid and rod, insert the drivers side end into the hinge arm, attach it to the bottom of trunk lid then grab and twist the passenger side down to meet the arm from the hinge. Can't mess up and let it slip or your doing some touch up or repair - of course there are always your finger. Have seen some people take a short section of heavy pipe and cut a slot in it and use it for mechanical advantage. If course you will need to protect the rod from the metal pipe especially if your doing this to a painted car and rod.
Just what I've done. Sure others have their method that might be less "cave man" Often brute force has served me well