It asks us to go outward, into the world, and observe the people and landscapes with the intent to understand rather than criticize or condemn. It suggests that we cannot ask others to understand us without having made a sincere effort to know other people. I also think it implies that when we aren't so caught up in the navel-gazing variety of introspection, we won't have such a strong desire to be understood.

People do different things. For example: Some people like dogs more than cats. For a person to seek to understand, let's say: A person that likes dogs should ask a person that likes cats, "Why do you like cats?" The opposite of this statement is what most people typically do: "I like dogs because cats are evil" In a sense, the message could also be "Ignorance is a choice"

https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits-habit5.php This was a famous business book in the nineties.i remember it well.

You should try to understood others before you expect them to try to understand you. Or first listen if you want to be listened to.