How to get along with others

Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and try to see things from their point of view. That’s one of the great keys to working with clients, pleasing customers, sustaining a marriage, raising children, pastoring people, helping those who are less fortunate, etc. Live by this scripture: “All of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.” Try to look beyond yourself, your own pursuits, and your own world. When you decide to reflect upon an issue from every possible angle, (a) look at it in light of another person’s history, (b) find out the interests and concerns of others, and (c) lay aside your own plan and try to see what others see. That’s a powerful thing because it means you are truly connecting with them. If you join in any kind of group or team activity, you know how vital it is that each person sees the whole picture and not just their own part. Anytime a person doesn’t recognize how their work fits in with that of their teammates, then the whole team suffers. The better a team member grasps the big picture, the greater their potential to work with the team. Getting along with people and working with them requires effort: getting to know their needs, their goals, their hurts, and their struggles. That’s what Jesus does with us. The Bible says that He can “sympathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15 NKJV). To follow in His footsteps, you must endeavour to do that with others.