Point of View

Remember that other people may be totally wrong. But they don't think so. Don't condemn them. Any fool can do that. Try to understand them. Only wise, tolerant, exceptional people even try to do that.
There is a reason why the other man thinks and acts as he does. Ferret out that reason - and you have the key to his actions, perhaps to his personality. Try honestly to put yourself in his place.
If you say to yourself, "How would I feel, how would I react if I were in his shoes?" you will save yourself time and irritation, for "by becoming interested in the cause, we are less likely to dislike the effect."
And, in addition, you will sharply increase your skill in human relationships.

Kenneth M. Goode in his book How to Turn People Into Gold,
"stop a minute to contrast your keen interest in your own affairs with your mild concern about anything else. Realize then, that everybody else in the world feels exactly the same way! Then, along with Lincoln and Roosevelt, you will have grasped the only solid foundation for interpersonal relationships; namely, that success in dealing with people depends on a sympathetic grasp of the other persons' viewpoint."

What kind of conversation can make the persons who done wrong and make them to cooperate with you? No sullenness, no resentment. They hadn't been forced to obey orders. They had saved their faces. They felt better because I had handled the situation with consideration for their point of view.
So, before asking anyone to buy your product or contribute to your favorite charity, why not pause and close your eyes and try to think the whole thing through from another person's point of view?
Ask yourself: "Why should he or she want to do it?"
True, this will take time, but it will avoid making enemies and will get better result - and with less friction and less shoe leather.
If, as a result of reading this, hope you learn something - an increased tendency to think always in terms of the other person's point of view, and see things from that person's angle as well as your own - if you get only that one thing from this, it may easily prove to be one of the stepping - stones of your career.

An Opinion of Mine

Most people trying to win other to their way of thinking do too much talking themselves. Let the other people talk themselves out. They know more about their business and problems than you do. So ask them questions. Let them tell you a few things.
If you disagree with them you may be tempted to interrupt. But don't. It is dangerous. They won't pay attention to you while they still have a lot of ideas of their own crying for expression. So listen patiently and with an open mind. Be sincere about it. Encourage them to express their ideas fully.
I discovered, by coincidence, how richly it sometimes pays to let other person do the talking.
Even our friends would much rather talk to us about their achievements than listen to us boast about ours.

"If you want enemies, excel your friends; but if you want friends, let your friends excel you."

Why is that true? Because when our friends excel us, they feel important; but when we excel them, they --or at least some of them-- will feel inferior and envious.
This is what I think should be the way things are personally. Do you?