When I was a child, my father used to use the phrase "know what both ends of the stick are doing". He would remind me of this usually when I was getting too eager to do one thing and forgot to do something necessary first. Literally, when you carry a stick that is a bit longer than what you are used to, running through narrow doorways might be an issue if you are not paying attention. Ever see a dog carrying a large stick get stuck navigating a smaller space?
This applies to people as well. We often get so caught up in our own agendas, that we forget to look at another persons perspective. Particularly in business, this can come across as pushy, spammy, or just rude sometimes. Not a good first impression either.
Knowing the other persons perspective or agenda is a worthwhile endeavor and most times is appreciated even if you may not get it right initially. Which is usually the case without asking some questions. For example, attempting to speak the language in a foreign country generally is greeted with a knowing smile, even when you botch the meaning. The effort is appreciated. You are at least attempting to know what the other end of the stick is doing.
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